Large scale SWAT callouts

[TacDispatch]

I've worked my fair share of tactical callouts, including barricaded subjects, but I've definitely never worked one in such large scale as the one the LAPD SWAT team just finished. It makes me curious: how does one manage the radio traffic from 200 officers on scene? Multiple channels? Common sense (yes, occasionally we dispatchers have it, lol) leads me to think that the SWAT officers use their own channel and patrol, traffic, commanders, etc., that may be assisting with perimeter would make use of other frequencies.

I'd love to hear (generally, of course, no specific tactical details here on the internet) what some of you experienced SWAT or large dept guys think.

And, sidenote: my prayers go out to the families and teammates of Officers Randy Simmons and James Veenstra. I never cease to be amazed and inspired by the dedication, bravery, and warrior ethic of SWAT officers.

[Jay7376]

how does one manage the radio traffic from 200 officers on scene? Multiple channels? Common sense (yes, occasionally we dispatchers have it, lol) leads me to think that the SWAT officers use their own channel and patrol, traffic, commanders, etc., that may be assisting with perimeter would make use of other frequencies.

Often through the use of the Incident Command System. Not all 200 of those officers will be on the same freq, or on the radio at all to begin with.

[stewie]

Generally speaking SWAT operates on it's own frequency, separate from the Tactical frequency of the Incident Command. Also, Communications Division will send "RTO's" a.k.a dispatchers to the scene and operate out of a communications truck.

Base frequencies remain in play for the various other radio traffic throughout the Division.

[cntryboy0531]

Often through the use of the Incident Command System. Not all 200 of those officers will be on the same freq, or on the radio at all to begin with.

Exactly.

When we had an officer shot and killed from my agency back in 2006, we had formed one of the largest manhunts in Central Florida history with well over 200 people on scene, we had a special dispatch channel for that incident and one dispatcher, and for the most part, kept the conversation down to bare minimum. Dispatch was done very smoothly.

We rolled out our Mobile Command center and had the dispatcher transported from the communications center, to the command center where she began dispatching from the Command Center with full computer access as well. Our County Radio services division came out with their own command center which came with a massive portable radio tower which elimited any dead spots at the incident location and the ability to patch radio channels with other agency's on scene. Just comes down to how well you prepare and train your agency to use Incident Command basically.

[mcsap]

We have two extra " zones " set aside for everything from a pursuit to a SERT incident so that the main , normal channels are undisturbed.

One zone has a repeater and one doesn't. Depends what is needed.

We also have our mobile comm center motor home which has all of that capability and can go on site to be the base of comm ops.

[Hockey9019]

Same here as Jay. Same with large scale fire scenes. They use the IC System. Each "sector" has their own channel. Logistics, Planning, etc.

But they all report up to the top.

[Valor55]

Our command bus would be deployed with it's own dispatcher and CAD integrated. The incident would have it's own channel and like said already, most of those involved are never on the radio.

[ChesCopPodz]

Here SWAT would be on it's own channel. The incident would be given it's own channel for the patrol officers on scene.

There would be a lot less radio traffic than one would think.

[smcc360]

The larger-than-usual callouts I've been on (rarely on the scale of that LAPD thing) have seen us broken down into squads of 5-10. Squad members talk to the squad leader on one channel, and the squad leader talks to incident command on another. Everyone can hear incident command, but only the squad leaders and the higher-ups actually talk on that channel.

It's still usually a fustercluck.

[Norm357]

My Wife's agency has a mobile tactical dispatch center that rolls on situations like the one in LA. Several dispatchers have been to tactical dispatcher training. (I have no idea what that means, I just read the diplomas on the wall of the dispatch center.);)

[Switchback]

...Several dispatchers have been to tactical dispatcher training. (I have no idea what that means, I just read the diplomas on the wall of the dispatch center.);)

I think that means they get to wear camouflage and they get water resistant headsets.
:D






















...before anyone threatens to flog me, I was just kidding.

[SSA1811]

In large-scale, Federal multi-agency enforcement operations, radio communications must be addressed in the op plan and discussed during the pre-op briefing with the lead Federal Agency providing the equipment (walkie-talkies) to, at a minimum, the operational team leaders.

Sounds good, but as smcc360 said, it usually ends up being a "fustercluck". (I like that term!)

The last "large-scale" multi-agency operation I participated in involved the simultaneous execution of 54 arrest warrants. Each Team Leader had the lead Agency's walkie-talkies tuned into the CP's assigned frequency while the Team Members had their respective Agency walkie-talkies tuned to Treasury Common.

Fortunately, there was no exigent need for tactical communications that day, but from what I observed there was a lot of "informal" communication via respective Agency cell phone and Agency NexTel direct connect.

P.S. We were able to effect the arrests of 48 of the 54 individuals that morning (over ten years ago).


.

[Insayn]

We have our own channel to operate off of. We use direct as well so its range is limited and not bounced off a repeater for others to pick up. If we are running a simultaneous op with the other unit we have another channel available to us, all separate from each of the patrol division channels. Radio discipline is practiced to essential, critical information to the command post and/or SWAT operators so not to flood the air with superfalous chatter. We only use a dispatcher on our channel at the onset of the situation...to allow us to communicate and coordinate with patrol/perimeter elements. Once our command post arrives they take over the task.