Downed Officer and Citizen Rescue

SWAT Officers will be called upon to rescue downed officers and

citizens. It is important that we practice techniques to help us

achieve our goal of protecting life.

TWO TECHNIQUES

1. Use ballistic shields to provide cover to the rescuing Officers while approaching on foot.

2. The other techniques involves using a vehicle to approach the victim.

Ballistic Material and Its Limitations

National Institute of Justice

This agency tests the armor with strict protocol and they only test using particular ammunition.

To be sure of the armors ability to stop other rounds you must test the material yourself or rely on an independent lab to test it.

National Institute of Justice

Most hand held shields are only NIJ level 3A and are designed to only stop pistol caliber rounds.

Level 3A Spectra weighs 1 pound per square foot. Level 4 Spectra weighs 5 pounds per square foot.

National Institute of Justice

MOST SHIELDS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO BE HELD IN YOUR HANDS WILL NOT STOP CENTER FIRE RIFLE ROUNDS.

National Institute of Justice

The fact that the shield is rigid does not make it a higher NIJ threat level.

You cannot stack armor (i.e. if you are holding a 3A shield and wearing 3A armor it does not combine to provide protection against rifle fire).

National Institute of Justice

Ballistic material in the shield can cause a bullet to ricochet. Be aware of where you are standing in relation to the shield and the suspect.

Downed Officer Rescue

Perceived Angle of Threat

This is the angle that the shields must constantly be facing. The shields should be kept perpendicular to the threat.

It can change as the threat moves and as the Officer(s) move.

For the shields to be effective this angle must be known and constantly checked.

Five Officer/Two Shield Rescue

Five Officer/Two Shield Rescue

Each Officer should have body armor and a ballistic helmet.

The Shield Bearers

These Officers hold the shields vertical and overlap them. The shield bearers can hold a piece of rope or similar material between the shields to keep them overlapped. Just make sure the rope can be released and the shields separated immediately.

Shield Bearers

Each Officer reaches around the outside of the shield and protects the Team with pistols.

Each Officer ensures the shields are perpendicular to the PERCEIVED ANGLE OF THREAT.

Shield Bearers

It is preferred that shield bearers are carrying the shield in their support hand and their primary hand is holding the weapon.

The Linebacker/Team Leader

Stands behind the shield bearers and between them

Directs the team to the Victim

Ensures the shields stay overlapped

In charge of team

Turns around and guides the team away from the threat

Weapon is holstered but can provide their weapon to the shield bearers in case of malfunction or run out of ammunition

The Rescuer

Stays behind the Linebacker/Team Leader on approach

Turns around and carries the injured officer/citizen away from the threat

Weapon in holstered

Rescuer/Free Safety

Last person in the rescue team

Stays facing the shields and carries out the victim.

During the evacuation ensures the team is behind the shields

Weapon is holstered Ensures all officers

stay low and behind the shield at all times.

Five Officer/Two shield rescue Approach at an angle

that does not place the victim in between your team and the threat. Approach at a 45 degree angle.

When backing away from the threat, choose the most direct and safest route to cover.

Consider placing a cover team away from the rescue team that can provide static cover fire and protect the team.

Five Officer/Two shield rescue

Suppression fire may be appropriate in certain circumstances. The fire should be at random intervals and every round must be accounted for. Be aware of your target area and what will contain the rounds.

Seven Officer/Two shield rescue

Similar to the Five Officer/Two shield rescue, however, the shield bearers only hold the shields and keep their weapons holstered.

The two cover officers preferably have long weapons and cover the team from both sides of the shields.

Remaining is same as Five Officer/Two shield rescue

No Situation Will be Perfect

The same techniques can be used when only one shield is present.

The shield bearer can protect the team with a shield.

The shield bearer can just hold the shield while one or two officers that are behind the shield can protect the team with weapons.

Shooting around the shield

Hold the shield tight to your ballistic helmet. This allows a greater field of view and stabilizes the shield.

With the handgun, bend the elbow slightly and USE THE SIGHTS.

Ensure that both weapons are in the same plane and one is not protruding too far past the other.

Canting the weapon at a 45 degree angle can help with seeing the sights.

Shooting around the shield

Avoid placing the weapon in a horizontal plane. It can disturb bullet impact and cause a “weak wrist” inducing a malfunction.

All weapon manipulation must be done with one hand while the other hand holds the shield.

Shooting Around the Shield

If suppression fire is appropriate, designate a primary shooter and a secondary shooter. This helps ensure both shooters do not run dry at the same time.

Suppression Fire around shield

Primary shooter shoots until weapon is empty, then notifies Secondary Shooter to take over until the Primary Shooter’s weapon is reloaded. Primary shooter can then take over.

Secondary Shooter keeps weapon at the ready and can IMMEDIATELY fire when the Primary shooter is empty or has a malfunction.

Shooting around shield

When using long guns ensure the muzzle is past the shield and be aware of where your brass will eject.

Mobile Vehicle Rescues

Armored Vehicle

Be aware of your ballistic protection inside the vehicle. For instance most armored vehicles (ones commonly used in money transport) do not protect from rifle fire.

Because of the various vehicle available the team must develop a tactic using their own vehicle.

Armored Vehicles

Approach at such an angle as to not place the victim between you and the threat.

When you reach the victim place your vehicle between the threat and the victim and keep rescuers behind the vehicle (cover).

Consider placing a cover team in a static position away from the rescue team to provide cover.

Mobile rescues/Patrol vehicle

One without a cage is preferred Cover the vehicle with as much ballistic

material as possible, while still allowing the driver to see.

Consider placing a cover team in a static position away from the rescue team to provide cover.

Patrol vehicle rescue/Personnel

Driver Rescuer, grabs the victim Team Leader, provides cover

Method of Rescue

Team Leader rides in front passenger seat and directs the driver to the victim.

Team leader provides cover. Team leader ensures all persons are inside

the car and gives the order to leave. The driver remains behind the wheel

Method of Rescue

The driver when given the order to leave backs up the car to the last point of cover.

The rescuer rides in the back seat and rescues the victim.

The rescuer remains low and behind cover during the rescue.

The rescuer pulls the victim in the back seat and notifies the team leader when he and the victim are inside.

Mobile vehicle rescues

Various Vehicles Other vehicles may offer advantages over a

patrol sedan, however, remember the basics described in the discussions above.