We really won’t know how risky an operation is if we don’t systematically assess the potential risks ahead of time. Most tactical team members are aware of these types of assessments because they use them to prepare for high-risk operations. Many agencies have policies that require pre-operational risk assessments. Even if your agency doesn’t require them, I encourage all of you to conduct a risk assessment on any location where you’ll be performing special operations.
These risk assessments are a pre-operational study of the people and locations involved. You should review information from past activities about the people who live at or frequent that location. Is there a history of weapons use, mental illness or drug use? Have they made threats against the police before? Are there innocent parties at the location, such as dependent adults or children, that you need to plan for?
And what about the location itself? Do you have the correct address? Does it appear to be fortified in any way? Are there animals, such as dogs, that you need to handle upfront? Are there surveillance measures, like cameras, in place? If the location is spread out over a large area, do you have enough officers to cover everything needed to keep everyone safe? These are just a few examples of things to consider and plan for before conducting any operation.
You know I’m a big fan of checklists. Some departments have checklists that include other things to consider when assessing an operation’s possible risks. Whatever the case, we really won’t know how risky an operation is if we don’t systematically assess the potential risks ahead of time. So please, do your part. Work safely. Preparation is key. Your life and the lives of your colleagues depend on it.
