The Things Worth Believing In

Something unfortunately tends to fly out the window the second stress enters the equation: clear thinking.

It seems like everyone in this industry studies, practices, and frankly, sometimes fantasizes about “dynamic entry” and building clearing. But often, the best tactical decision you can make is to slow the hell down and ask one simple question: Is this actually necessary?

The Danger of the “Hunt”

Going into a building after an armed, barricaded subject—or clearing your own home in the middle of the night—is arguably the most dangerous thing you will ever do. Before you cross that threshold, you need to articulate the necessity.

• Is someone in immediate danger inside?
• Is there a life-safety reason to move now?

If the subject is armed, alone, and not ready to surrender, what is the hurry? If you “go dynamic” and someone gets killed, how are you going to explain that decision? “I wanted to get it over with” isn’t an entry in the playbook of a professional.

The Home Defense Blueprint

This applies to the “Domestic Arena” too. If you and your wife are in the bedroom and you know an intruder is in the house, there is almost zero reason to go out looking for them.

The Strategy:

1. Arm yourself.
2. Call 911.
3. Bunker down in a defensible position.
4. Announce loudly that you are armed and the police are on the way.

Hunting a shadow in your hallway is a coin toss where the stakes are your life. Don’t take the bet if you don’t have to.

Limited Entry and Communication

In a lone-gunman barricade, the goal is contact and negotiation. If that fails, you don’t have to go “full SWAT” immediately. You can utilize Limited Entry.

Limited entry allows you to clear what you can see without committing your entire body to a room you haven’t “vetted” yet. You aren’t clearing the structure; you are locating the subject.

Furthermore, “stealth” is often overvalued. I’ve seen officers try to “stealth clear” when the better option was to stand in a covered position outside and call the subject out. Even if the reply is a “F#$K YOU!”, you’ve achieved a tactical win: you now know exactly where he is without putting a single boot inside the kill zone.

Flexibility is the Standard

If a subject manages to wound a good guy, “going dynamic” to finish the fight isn’t always the answer—often, it just results in more casualties. Evacuate the wounded and reset the situation.

Every incident is different. You have to be flexible. Don’t let a “cool” tactic you saw in a movie dictate a response that gets you or your partners killed.

Slow down. Think. Articulate the necessity. Then move—if you have to.