New Cover of The Tactical Edge

Dear Editor:

I want to complement you and your staff for the outstanding "new look" of The Tactical Edge. I had the opportunity to work with John and Janice Kolman in the early publication of the magazine (I did photography for several of the early conferences).

When I received the Summer 2012 issue, I was immediately impressed by the new cover. I especially liked the new typeface and varnish; it is outstanding. As an "old time typesetter" (lead type) I am impressed with the typography, the layout and design as well as the excellent content.

Thanks for making The Tactical Edge an outstanding professional publication.

Tim Birkeland LASD ret.

Conference Scholarship - Thank You

9/27/11 

Dear Corey (Luby),

I would like to think you and the rest of the NTOA for the scholarship and the opportunity to attend the conference. The entire conference was phenomenal, from the vendor show to the training. I was able to network with other operators and share ideas as well as learn from a wide array of excellent instructors. I attended to SWAT Team Leader Development course and it was some of the best training I have ever received. The course instructors (Dan Murphy and AJ Deandrea) are a testament to the knowledge and commitment of the NTOA. I have brought back more than I ever expected, and this knowledge will help me to prepare my team and bring them home safe. Again thank you for the opportunity and I hope to see you all again soon.

Lt. James Harklerode
Marion Police Department

7/28/10

Dear Corey (Luby),

This letter serves to formally express my personal and professional appreciation for the efforts of the National Tactical Officer’s Association to create a program allowing officers from financially challenged agencies to attend.  In my humble opinion, this is exemplary of the leadership the NTOA delivers to law enforcement in the United States as well as aboard.

As you know, I am a 2010 grant recipient. With sincere gratitude, I eagerly await to attend the conference in Pittsburgh.  Our agency like many suffers under the current economic hardships.  The NTOA saw this need, took the initiative and sought private source funding to bring officers to the conference.  Frankly, this defines leadership and determines your place in history as the authority in the tactical environment.

In 2002, I had the privilege to attend the NTOA’s Active Shooter Instructor course.  I believe Rob Cartner was the lead instructor. The experience base that the staff brought to training was excellent.  Since then I have had both memberships in the NTOA.  I have greatly benefited from the resource library and the online forums for doing research.  The staff of the NTOA has been experienced, professional and personable during my interactions. Please share my commendations to all the staff.   It was because of these experiences; I always promote the Association and strongly encourage other officers and agencies to join.

In closing, I simply would conclude with job well done, and take great pride in knowing that you are a great resource supporting the officers in the defense of our nation.   Hooah!!

Professionally,
Deputy Sheriff Michael J Gorham
(Wisconsin)

5/14/10

Thank you for writing SWAT Standards

Dear John (Gnagey),

On behalf of the Central Montgomery County (PA) SWAT Team, I would like to thank the NTOA for writing the NTOA SWAT Standards. Since the standards were published I have heard comments of some negative consequences that would occur as a result of these standards. The naysayers wanted to focus on how the standards would hurt SWAT teams. My reason for writing is to provide an illustration of how the NTOA SWAT Standards will help SWAT teams.

For the past five years I have been formally requesting to increase our team training to 16 hours per month. These requests were accompanied by substantial supporting data, but were rejected every time. When this request was made recently, accompanied with the NTOA SWAT Standards, the outcome was much different.  After reviewing the standards and consulting with a police defense attorney, it became clear to our Chiefs that it was time for the team to meet these standards rather than explaining why we didn’t in civil proceedings down the road. I believe that the existence of these standards is the sole reason why their decision changed on this matter. The standards have also allowed us to get approved for 40 hours of in-service training per year as well.

Finally, many have said that the NTOA SWAT Standards would put an end to smaller teams. In our case this prediction did come true. Our team recently merged with a smaller neighboring team. Due to a limited coverage area they were not handling a high volume of calls. When the issue of the NTOA SWAT Standards was presented, manpower allocations were also addressed and it became apparent that a merger of the teams was a prudent decision. By merging the “best of the best” we have put together a properly staffed, equipped, operationally experienced, and now well-trained, tactical team that meets the NTOA SWAT Standards.

Thank you for improving the safety of SWAT officers and improving the caliber of tactical teams!

Lt. Tom Nolan
Team Leader
Central Montgomery County SWAT

3/11/10

SWAT Supervision and Command Decision-Making Training

Dear Don (Kester):

I recently attended the SWAT Supervision and Command Decision-Making class in Ruidoso, New Mexico. I would like to thank you for all of the information you provided me. I have already begun to put in place some of the ideas. I was very fortunate to attend this class at such an early stage in my career as a SWAT team leader.

I feel that every chief, sheriff and tactical operator should attend a class like this. Your experience and knowledge of SWAT tactics clearly showed during the full week of training. I will definitely forward to my administration that this is one of the best courses I have ever attended.

Thanks,
Detective J. Dominguez
Hobbs (NM) Police Department

2/24/10

SPA-NTOA Grant Program

Dear Mr. Luby:

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you and the NTOA for continuing to sponsor your SPA-NTOA Grant Program. The Corrections Emergency Response Team at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women has been awarded two very valuable equipment grants through your program and we really appreciate the support and assistance. Our agency, like many others, is facing significant budgetary restrictions and we are becoming more dependent on grants such as those being offered through the NTOA.

Companies like CamelBak and TASER Int. have been very generous to us and we appreciate their continuing support of the law enforcement community as well as your efforts to recruit more vendors into the program. In these difficult economic times, it is vital that the SPA-NTOA Grant Program continue this good work. Thank you once again for your efforts and the assistance that the NTOA and these vendors have given to our team.

Sincerely,
Commander Randy Hargis
Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women

2/5/10

SWAT Standards

To Captain Phil Hansen:

I wanted to thank you and your organization not just for the NTOA SWAT Standards but also for all of the follow up articles addressing the continuing evolution of SWAT protocols. These have all strengthened my Units SOP and I feel that they have made me a better commander.

Further, although I feel input from many sources is important to have a well-rounded product, your publication is a very important tool. I have read blogs and other material by some who were surprised with the release of the SWAT Standards, and it seems that some felt overlooked. Some of the concerns in my opinion are from those whoare just looking for something to pick apart and they have one-sided views and argue everything that is different from what they think.

Since about twenty years ago when I was first trained by LA SWAT (Al Presiado and Randy Simmons) to my most recent visit to my friends with the Miami-Dade SRT team (by the way what a great team and I had the chance to see them in action firsthand and they handled their business!) my SOPs and unit protocols continue to be modified when I learn something new that might benefit my team.

I try to read and research every aspect of the tactical arena as much as I can and then tailor my findings to best meet my goals and needs and be flexible and open-minded to new ideas. I would hope that most if not all SWAT commanders and supervisors have this same idea when they are charged daily to put their operators in harm’s way.

Lt. Michael A. Deeba Sr.
Commander, Mobile Reserve/SWAT/K-9
Bureau of Investigation/Support Operations
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department


2/5/10

e-Newsletter

Great e-newsletter this month! All of the articles were outstanding!

My favorite of the month was “Principles for Tactical Operators and Instructors” by Matthew W. McNamara; what I like to call the art and science of tactics. “Driving to Distraction” by Dr. Alexis Artwohl is another timely and outstanding article whose advice all cops should heed. I will pass the word along through my blog.

Lt. Fred T. Leland Jr.
Director and Principle Trainer
Law Enforcement & Security Consulting

2/5/10

Training

To: John Gnagey

It has been a few years since we met but I had the pleasure of working with you and the old SWAT Round-Up group as a judge for three years back in the late 90's. I was one of the original Charter members of the Florida SWAT Association back in 1985 and I've never left.  I just entered into my 26th year with the sheriff's office, still doing the SWAT thing and now training warriors.

I just wanted to drop you a quick note regarding a recent NTOA class that I attended. I am very familiar with the reputation of the NTOA and I have always believed that the NTOA has helped create the person I am today. I could go on all day about what the NTOA means to me but I just wanted to make a few quick statements regarding the class I attended.

The instructors not only met the standards that I expected of the NTOA, but they rose way above my expectations.  It is instructors like this that give the NTOA the reputation they have today.  They made us think, gave us options, spoke from life experience, had great personalities, and were just basically outstanding.  I cannot say enough about these instructors and their life-saving teaching.  I will continue to praise the NTOA and endorse the organization every chance I get as long as you continue to choose instructors like Dan Murphy and Steve Mescan.

Keep up the great work and I’ll see you (NTOA) the next time I need the best training money can buy!

Sgt. William J Gorman III
Charlotte County (FL) Sheriff’s Office
Training Division/SWAT