By Mark Lang
Tactical Edge/ Spring 2015
In March 2008, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued an assessment asserting that stadiums and arenas are potential targets during events. Further, it was stated, “it’s just a matter of time before terrorists target a major sports event.” Open- air venues where fans gather to watch sporting events or concerts are extremely vulnerable to attack.
In January 2009, DHS issued an assessment report titled “Threats to College Sports and Entertainment Venues and Surrounding Areas.” This report expounded on public transportation and infrastructure as a target of attack if the venue is perceived as being ... Read More
Category: General
26
Nov2015
20
Nov2015
by Mark Lang
With the recent (June) attack of the Dallas Police Headquarters and subsequent use of a 50 Caliber Rifle to stop the threat, many SWAT officers around the country are reexamining when is the last time they have had any substantive training specific to the employment of their 50 Caliber rifle and whether they will be prepared if a similar attack occurs in their jurisdiction. For many teams, learning of this directed attack, pursuit, and SWAT Operation with an armored vehicle raises issues and questions that quite frankly have not been pushed to the forefront for some time.How ... Read More
21
Mar2015
by Mark LangThe ScenarioAs the police sniper for your team on a callout you are 85 yards away from your target. The target is in a renovated condo building on the 15th floor. You are armed with your semi-auto .308 precision rifle. You have chambered a purpose built bonded round that you hope and pray can penetrate the glass that you are observing the suspect through. You have no near glass but the far glass may be a problem. At times the suspect comes directly up to the window but most times is at little off the window. You have ... Read More
09
Dec2014
BY MARK LANG
DEC 8, 2014 Officer.com
Any SWAT commander will tell you they want as many options as possible on the table during an operation. It does not guarantee success, but it increases the likelihood of success. One such option is the use of an Aerial Platform (AP). I will refer to it this way but it is also referred to as Aerial Gunnery, Aerial Marksmanship and Aerial Platform Interdiction depending on who you might be speaking with. Aerial Platform is defined as the placing of accurate rifle fire from a hovering, crawling or moving helicopter in support of a ... Read More
23
Oct2014
BY by Mark Lang ON OCT 22, 2014 OFFICER.COM
If you are not moving forward, then in essence you are moving backwards’
This saying is paramount to SWAT operators and the team supervision as they endeavor to be the best they can be. Often overlooked in much of the training and operations is bullet selection and performance. When was the last time you took a serious look at the round(s) that your team and snipers use?A popular belief for the uneducated is that performance on paper equates to proper performance on a human being or a hard target. This couldn’t be further ... Read More
10
Oct2014
by Mark Lang
Officer.com
How much training does your SWAT team do away from your range facility? If your answer is none, then perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate your current training.Think about the amount of time and training you have spent at your range as you keep pushing yourself to be the best you can. You see the same facilities and invariably do the same type of training over and over. From the flat range to a shoot house or a training tower, you have mixed it up as best as you can in the past, but still find yourself doing the ... Read More
22
Jul2014
by Mark Lang
Officer.com
As the Police Sniper it is my responsibility to let my peers and supervisors know my capabilities and limitations. My excuses must be little to none and my standard must be higher than the rest. That is my mentality, my way and direction. If I am standing still, then I am moving backwards. The Police Sniper should be one of the best members of your team.Military and Police Sniper selectionLet’s just get this out front and center: there are differences between Military and Police snipers. Experts have spent hours discussing those differences, but let’s stick to the matter ... Read More
20
Feb2014
"Activities in the BC Place Stadium located in downtown Vancouver were set aside recently to let the Vancouver Police Department snipers train with the instructors of Craft International LLC, co-founded by Chris Kyle. The training helps ensure the criminals will lose the game on a third and final down.In recent years, SWAT teams and Emergency Response Teams across Canada have begun training with consulting and training providers, who are mostly owned by ex-military operators from across the globe, on tactics used by the military. This gives them the edge against a growing numbers of both criminals and potential terrorists. We ... Read More
03
Jun2013
Law Enforcement Technology May 2013
By Mark Lang
"At the completion of this article another terrorist attack has taken the lives of fellow Americans at a major sporting event. These particular cowards who attacked us ran, but ultimately were dealt with by the fine efforts of the Boston-area law enforcement. Sporting events and venues are and will continue to be an attractive target until we get serious about securing them on a consistent basis. It's a huge undertaking, no doubt, but isn't one life worth it?Football games, ice hockey, NASCAR racing…every day our friends and family attend events like these with an ... Read More
15
May2013
by Mark Lang
Officer.com
At the completion of this article another terrorist attack has taken the lives of fellow Americans at a major sporting event. These particular cowards who attacked us ran, but ultimately were dealt with by the fine efforts of the Boston-area law enforcement. Sporting events and venues are and will continue to be an attractive target until we get serious about securing them on a consistent basis. It’s a huge undertaking, no doubt, but isn’t one life worth it?Football games, ice hockey, NASCAR racing...every day our friends and family attend events like these with an expectation of safety and ... Read More
03
Apr2013
“Arkansas State Police and Little Rock and North Little Rock SWAT team members return from sniper positions around War Memorial Stadium during a Police Sniper Response to a Public Venue training session on Wednesday. Police sniper instructors from Craft International of Dallas led the group of Arkansas law enforcement members in a training event at the stadium.”
17
Mar2013
Course Review- Craft International's Combative Transitions to Your Firearm
by Sergeant Pamela Starr, Dallas PD"According to the Tacflow™ website (www.tacflow.com), Tacflow™ is "tactically-flowing through a CQC environment utilizing all levels of force from carbine to hand-to-hand solutions." It combines skills learned in the Kali and Silat styles of hand-to-hand combatives with the weaponry of law enforcement and military officers and it is the basis for Craft International's close quarters combat courses (www.thecraft.com). The course is taught by Rigo Durazo who holds the title of Maha Guru in his style and has extensive experience in law enforcement and military operations. Quite an ... Read More