FORCIBLE ENTRY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47
so?” you ask. For one, an officer, when forcible entry is needed, will be using a tool and not his or her body – a practice that could result in an injury.
So you bought into the need for tools for forcible entry; how are you going to acquire them? Let us address the 800-pound gorilla in the room: money. There are different options on how to address cost, and I always refer to the hometown rule because there is nothing more important than this if you’ re trying to get something done. Some of the options are grants; some
agencies have used designated OEM / FEMA grants for the purchasing of tools, others have added line items to budgets or the use of seizure money which usually covers tools and training, while some simply buy what they can afford and add tools every year to their fleets as they progress.
Now you’ ve gotten past this money issue, and actually are going to order forcible entry tools for patrol, such as breaching gear. What do you order, and who is going to order the product? This is the most important choice in the whole process, for in many cases, the money took engaging in a long, hard-fought battle to acquire. The following is a quick guide for how to purchase correctly.
• Buy a quality product, and not one made out of cheap material. This product is to be used to save lives; buying cheap will cost you – and beware of knockoff copycats. There is a reason why one tool costs hundreds of dollars and its knockoff is $ 100; the knockoff will break and won’ t work properly – buy cheap, pay twice.
• Weight to end user ratio, and a carrying system will need to be addressed. You want a tool that can be used by all, no matter what their physical abilities are, and easily carried by any member of your patrol force. Ideally, you’ d want something that would allow your body to carry the tool, such as sling, thus allowing you to keep both hands on your weapon platform or free for other uses. You want a carrying system that is easy to deploy, and one that allows you to remove as well as replace the tool with ease.
• Training officers in forcible entry, the agency mission is not to make everyone a breacher, but is to provide instruction on forcible entry. There is an added cost associated with this, as well; so, many agencies will look to train the trainer by using breachers from SWAT teams and other units. Very few companies offer any type of support of online training aids on this topic. The one that does offer in-depth instructions and information videos allows agencies to
48 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ AUGUST 2016