The Debrief with Jon Becker
Leaders & Legends - National Issues in Special Tactics - The NTOA Perspective – Thor Eells & Don Kester
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Fostering leadership qualities in tactical professionals through training and education.
- Promoting consistency in training and operations through collaboration with state associations.
- Advocating for national standards and regionalization to enhance Swat team capabilities.
Deep dives
Role of NTOA in Promoting Leadership and Training Standards
The NTOA aims to share stories of tactical leaders to enhance leadership qualities. Through its affiliation with NTOA, Thor Eels and Don Kester highlight the importance of leadership in their tactical careers. They emphasize the relevance of training and education in developing tactical operations professionals, focusing on fostering better leaders and thinkers.
Mission of NTOA
The NTOA remains dedicated to upholding the core principles of training, education, and professionalism in Swat operations. They actively seek feedback and information to address regional challenges and disseminate knowledge to enhance law enforcement practices nationwide. By supporting state associations and promoting collaboration, the NTOA assists in sharing best practices and ensuring consistency in training and operations.
Importance of National Standards and Regionalization in Enhancing Tactical Capabilities
Recognizing the need for national standards, the NTOA and affiliated organizations have developed minimum mission capabilities for Swat teams, promoting consistency across agencies. They advocate for regionalization initiatives to consolidate resources and improve mission readiness. By fostering standardization in policies, training, and equipment usage, the NTOA aims to enhance operational effectiveness and preparedness across various tactical teams.
Importance of Self-Reflection and After Action in Law Enforcement
Law enforcement has shifted away from self-reflection and after-action reviews, hindering the ability to learn from mistakes. The lack of introspection and accountability within teams has led to a decline in candid discussions about operational errors. The speaker highlights a trend towards avoiding discussions on operational failures during debriefs, emphasizing the necessity for honest self-assessment. The profession of law enforcement needs to prioritize introspection and actively address shortcomings to drive positive change and effectiveness.
Challenges and Solutions in Law Enforcement's Tactical Operations
The discussion delves into the complexities of tactical operations in law enforcement, particularly focusing on the use of no-knock warrants and dynamic tactics. The need to differentiate between legal concepts and tactical strategies is emphasized to promote safety and effectiveness. The podcast advocates for a shift towards utilizing knock-and-announce warrants over no-knock warrants, underlining the importance of risk assessment, safety priorities, and mitigating operational risks. By prioritizing risk management and aligning mission objectives with safety priorities, law enforcement aims to enhance operational outcomes and protect both officers and the public.
My guests today are Thor Eells and Don Kester from the National Tactical Officers Association or NTOA which is the largest tactical organization in the United States. Thor is a retired commander from the Colorado Springs Colorado Police Department where he served for 30 years. The majority of which was in tactical response including serving as a swat operator, a swat team leader and a team commander. Thor is currently the Executive Director for NTOA after serving many years as a board member and a trainer. Don is retired from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona where he served as a SWAT team operator, team leader, team sergeant, training director and SWAT team commander eventually retiring as a Division
Commander and Captain. Don is currently the training and education director for the NTOA after many years of service as a trainer and a board member.
Timestamps
02:00 – Thor’s background and law enforcement career
05:00 – Don’s background and law enforcement career
11:00 – The mission of the National Tactical Officers Association
15:30 – The relationship between state associations and the NTOA
20:30 – Police reform movements & the role of the NTOA as information provider
37:00 – National standards for special tactics teams
46:00 – Maintaining training standards with diverse team capabilities
55:00 – The NTOAs role in supporting teams with subject matter expertise
1:00:00 – The need to honest self-examination and debriefing
1:05:00 – The roots of bad legislation and need for law enforcement to oppose it
1:11:00 – No knock warrants, dynamic entries, and the NTOAs position paper
1:32:00 – The counter arguments for dynamic tactics and no-knock warrants
1:34:00 – Risk management and safety priorities
Contact Info
Thor Eells - teells@ntoa.org
Don Kester - dkester@ntoa.org
Links
NTOA | National Tactical Officers Association
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