The Decision-Making Process for SWAT Snipers: When and How

SWAT teams are often depicted in the media as engaging in continuous firefights, but reality is far more complex and restrained. This article explores the critical aspects of when a SWAT sniper can shoot a hostage taker and who makes these crucial decisions. It highlights the real-life scenarios and the training behind these actions.

When Can a SWAT Sniper Shoot?

One of the most crucial decisions a SWAT sniper must make is when to use lethal force. For a SWAT sniper to shoot, the life of a hostage, officer, or any individual is at imminent risk. This lethal force is granted after the situation commander or a similar authority figures has evaluated the situation and deemed it necessary. However, an armed officer, including a sniper, has the legal duty to act if they believe it is necessary to prevent harm to others.

The Role of the Situation Commander in Decision-Making

The situation commander is usually the one who makes the critical decision to authorize lethal force. This commander evaluates the threat level, the potential outcomes of non-violent resolutions, and the likelihood of successful intervention by HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) members. In some situations, the sniper themselves may need to take action if the circumstances change suddenly and pose an immediate threat. In such cases, the sniper will need to explain their decision later to the appropriate authorities.

A Real-Life Example: A Hostage Situation

To illustrate the decision-making process, let's consider a real-life scenario that involved the FBI hostage negotiation team and the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT).

A man had kidnapped his former girlfriend and their two-year-old child, traveling to a remote location where they were found hiding in an unoccupied summer home. Negotiations through the night were attempted, but the situation took a dangerous turn when the man assaulted the woman and demanded a helicopter ride out of the area, threatening to kill them if his demands were not met.

While there, I, as an FBI hostage negotiator, met with the overall FBI on-scene commander, the state police, and the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) commander. I offered my opinion on the man's threat level to the woman and the child. I explained that we would not be able to talk him into surrendering and that we would need to take him out with a sniper to save the woman and child. The FBI HRT provided assurances that they could handle the situation once the man was driven out of the house.

Between command, tactical, and negotiation efforts, the decision was made to use an FBI helicopter as a visual stimulus to talk him out of the house. Once they exited the home, the man had the child on his shoulders, with his head wrapped around the man's head, and his gun jammed against the woman's head.

As they traversed an open field towards the helicopter, an HRT operator, in accordance with our prior agreement, threw a flashbang to the gunman's right rear side. This caused the man to turn his head, creating a small space between his head and the child's head. An HRT sniper took the opportunity to shoot through and through the gunman's head from 100 yards away, ensuring the man's immediate death and saving the woman and child.

The woman later recounted that he had whispered, "goodby kitten" as he started to pull the trigger on the gun pressed against the back of her head. At that moment, the HRT sniper fired, securing a split-second victory between life and death.

Conclusion

SWAT and emergency response teams are trained to handle a wide range of complex and high-pressure situations. The decision to use lethal force is never taken lightly and is always based on a thorough evaluation of the circumstances by highly trained professionals. The importance of strategic planning, careful negotiation, and the ability to quickly make life-or-death decisions cannot be overstated. For further insight, the book, "Facing Down Evil: Life as an FBI Profiler and Hostage Negotiator", provides detailed accounts of such real-life scenarios.