Tactical Medic by Ray Shay

Tactical Medic 

By Ray Shay 

 

With Easter celebration behind us and the conclusion of Lent, I was happy to return to Karl Strauss Brewing Company and enjoy a cold beer with friends, Dan London and Dan Barnett. As we joked and told some slightly embellished stories, I recall thinking the evening couldn't get any better.  

That was until a third friendly face, (also named Dan) appeared and said, "Excuse me. I don't mean to bother you, but my name is Dan King.  I just wanted to say, hi."  

Have you ever met someone you have not seen in many years and your are suddenly showered with vivid bits and pieces of past memories which transports you to another place and time?

Ray and SDFD Captain Dan King

That is what I was feeling when Dan said, "You may not remember me, but you were my SWAT Commanding Officer. We also went through a couple SWAT Academies together at Camp Pendleton."

I broke into a broad smile as I replied, "Dan, how could I ever forget you? We had some great missions together."  Dan immediately laughed as well as he replied, "Yes, we did."

 It's kind of funny when tactical or military personnel describe a critical incident as "good."  It usually means the risks were high, and in the process of arresting or stopping some very evil people, we tested our own skills and teamwork.  We were happy to come out of it in one piece. The closer to the edge, the better the mission.

As we spoke, I kept wondering how Dan did it.  How he volunteered night after night to join us as we responded to armed confrontations.  How does a man run to a possible gunfight and never bring a gun? 

The SDFD Special Trauma and Rescue Paramedics placed all their trust in their fellow SWAT Officers to protect them. If anything they were more of a target as they strained under their backpacks filled with life saving equipment.

I could never do their job. If someone was shooting at me, I would always want the option of returning the favor.

I guess that is what makes Dan King, Perry, Mike and other San Diego Fire Department STAR Paramedics, past and present, very special heroes.    

The inner perimeter of a SWAT tactical operation is one of the most restrictive areas in law enforcement.  Due to the margin of error being so small, and allowing the threat to escape is not an option, even experienced uniformed police officers are removed from the inner perimeter. 

That is the high stress environment where both SWAT Officers and these select San Diego Fire Department personnel operate.  It is common for the STAR personnel to actually be part of the entry or react teams. They are frequently sandwiched between SWAT Tactical officers as they move towards the threat. 

Ray and fellow SWAT Officers escorting out a hostage taker at conclusion of a SWAT mission in Chula Vista. The SDFD STAR Paramedics were present in the operation, but are out of view of the camera.

To every person on the team, the integration of these two elements is still recognized to this day as outstanding. As with most lessons in war or law enforcement, it was developed from past mistakes.

In 1981 two San Diego Police Officers were shot and killed in a driveway in a suburb of San Diego called, Linda Vista.  SDPD Officers Ron Ebeltoft  and Keith Tiffany laid mortally wounded in a driveway for over an hour without medical assistance.
 

(Click here for related story and video on SWAT STAR Paramedics) 

   

That is why tactical operations always include a paramedic element.  To have a highly trained paramedic as part of the tactical operation is essential to the safety of both officers and suspects.

Dan, I don't know if you will ever read this story, but if you do let me assure that by your brave and selfless actions over all those missions, you had an enormous impact on my life.  I would like to "Thank You" for all that you and your fellow SDFD SWAT STAR Paramedics do to safeguard our officers who are in harm's way.

Next time the beer is on me!

Cheers!

Copyright Shay Realtors 2015 All Rights Reserved      

The SWAT Academy by Ray Shay

Like my parents before me, Theresa and I encourage our three sons to identify and pursue their passion, regardless of what it is. I feel lucky because I always knew I wanted to be a police officer.

When I stopped by the SDPD Firearms Training Range on Friday morning, it reminded me of my passion for law enforcement.  I saw potential new SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Officers

SWAT Candidate

participating in the 2014 SWAT Academy.

I could heard the large volume of gunfire as SWAT candidates were learning advanced weapons skills and I saw officers carrying their tactical gear.  They yelled, "Good morning sir" as they marched past.  

The oppressive heat accentuated the unyielding effects of gravity on each of them as they strained under the burden of their heavy tactical body armor, weapons, ammunition and other gear which all seemed to be pressing them relentlessly towards our solid brown earth.

The sweat streaming off their faces reminded me once again what it means to the few SWAT officers who will successfully graduate and are awarded the honor of wearing a shiny brass SWAT pin on their dark blue San Diego Police uniforms.

SRT Officer Brad Pickett and  SWAT Executive Lieutenant Tina Williams

I noticed senior SRT (Special Response Team) Officer Brad Pickett was leading the training cadre.

We always called him "Bradman."  An excellent trainer and SWAT operator.  There were countless occasions where myself and other SWAT Officers worked with Brad and other team members to stop evil people who were intent on killing.

Being on a Perimeter, React or Entry Team as the door or wall of a home is breached with water backed explosive charges or feeling CS gas burning your lungs and eyes as flash bang diversionary devices were detonated, developed a certain bond between all of us.  Trusting someone with your life will do that to a person.

I felt a sense of melancholy when Brad said this would be his last SWAT Academy.  As I looked through my I-Phone viewer and took a picture of Brad and SWAT Executive Lieutenant Tina Williams, I realized how much the SWAT team has improved over the years.   

Ray back in the day...

You can tell from the photograph to the right, the quality of our equipment was historically poor.  I was using my hand held tactical mirror to peek around a corner of a wall in a training scenario at Camp Pendelton. I laugh when I see this photograph today, because that mirror was about as fancy as our equipment got and we each had to buy our own.

At SWAT missions the SEV (Special Equipment Vehicle) would roll up and pass out a limited number of helmets, gear and used Vietnam era AR-15 rifles and shotguns.  You learned to get to the Command Post early because it was like lining up at an ice cream truck in the middle of summer.  The selection of the best items dwindled quickly.  

Thanks to the support of the very generous business owners of ECHO Pacific, MOR Furniture, Citizens for SWAT Citizens for SWAT website and people like Dan Barnett, Tom Schwiebert, Padre baseball player Brian Giles and Assistant San Diego Police Chief Mark Jones, we now have one of the best equipped SWAT teams in the country.   

I visited briefly with Lt. Williams who is one of the handful of woman who ever successfully completed a SWAT Academy and like Brad she is a trusted and respected team member. Don't be fooled by her size.  Tina is an excellent XO and is a great compliment to SWAT Commanding Officer, Lt. Mark Saunders.
  
As I walked towards my car with Lt. Williams, she mentioned there are nineteen SDPD SWAT candidates and five officers from outside agencies in the academy and they had a qualification shoot later in the afternoon.  Neither of us said anything, but we both knew several of these men we saw today would likely not be around at the end of the academy.   

As the days wear on history has shown the constant stress, physical and mental demands and ability to consistently make sound decisions in difficult and rapidly changing environments results in candidates dropping on request or being dismissed from the SWAT Academy.   
  
It was good to see that despite having improved equipment the high standards of the team are clearly intact.  After all, under all that gear is simply a person's judgement and bravery.  It is what keeps these peacekeepers and our citizens as safe as possible as they enter the unforgiving world where there are no "do overs" and the margin for error is razor thin.   

The combination of a supportive community and a professional law enforcement agency is what helps these men and women pursue their highest priority, which is always the preservation of human life.  An honorable goal that is well worth the exceptional effort being put forth by both citizens and police.   

If you are interested in golfing at our 10th Annual Golf Tournament at Maderas to raise funds for the SDPD SWAT Team - Click on the following link:
  
SDPD SWAT Golf Tournament
  

Have a great week!

  

Copyrighted - All Rights Reserved - Shay Realtors 2014