Claremore Daily Progress

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November 18, 2012

SWAT training brings forth teamwork

Salesha Wilken Sports Writer

CLAREMORE — Law enforcement officers gathered in Claremore this week to participate in SWAT training hosted by the Rogers County Sheriff's Office.

The training was operated by Shannon Buhl Director of the Cherokee Nation Marshall Service.

Buhl leads the officers from Rogers County, Washington County, Glenpool, Bartlesville and Northeaster State University through the intensive 42 hours of training.

The classes earn the officer 40 hours of CLEET course credit and two hours of mental health credit, however the benefit goes far beyond that.

These officers, both men and women, learn the value of teamwork as well as advance preparation when dealing with high danger situations, according to Buhl.

Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton organized the training for that same reason.

“We want to synchronize tactical training with these other organizations,” Walton said. “You hope it will save a life when everyone shows up on the scene with the same plan of action.”

The training is intense and is limited to a small number of officers, however the training is provided to any agency that is cross-deputized with the Cherokee Nation Marshalls, according to Buhl.

During the event officers went through a number of scenarios that represented real life situations.

The training featured “bad guys” that filed simulation rounds at officers.

“SWAT is a lifesaving entity,” Buhl said. “The officers know if they are making the right choices in the simulations because they are fired upon if they make a mistake.”

It is this realistic training that prepares officers for what would happen in a real high-risk emergency.

Although, many of the officers would not likely see the action a SWAT team does, the training prepares them just in case and prepares them to work with SWAT teams that may be called to assist them.

Buhl's team has been call approximately 47 times this year alone assisting 14 counties in the state of Oklahoma.

The training focuses on force on force, building entry and search methods, dealing with mentally disturbed individuals, high-risk search warrants and armed barricades.

“It is another tool in the tool box for experienced SWAT teams and shows other officers what to expect when working with those teams,” Buhl said.

Deputy Quint Tucker places a real value on the training explaining that the training can be applied to everyday operations.

Officer Matt Graves of Glenpool said the value in the training is that it teaches different tactics to move with other agencies.

 

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