CISM stands for Critical Incident Stress Managment and is about cops taking care of cops. Critical incident stress is the line of duty stress you cannot see and sometimes, in the heat of battle, do not even feel. If left untreated and allowed to multiply faster, it is stress that can kill. CISM is a program in which SWAT officers are trained to support their fellow tactical team members as friends and brothers confidentially, without judgment, without losing respect. The Washington State CISM Network uses CISM trained SWAT team members as our peers rather than someone not familiar with SWAT tactics or tactical officers.

CISM services are available to WSTOA members individually or as a team. They may or may not wish to go through their department.

Mike Cobb is the the tactical team coordinator for The Washington State CISM Network. Mike was a member of WSTOA for 16 years, serving on the executive board as both the district 4 representative and WSTOA president. Any WSTOA member is welcome to contact Mike at any time (24/7), at 509-531-6604. Please visit the The Washington State CISM Network website, www.wacismnetwork.org for more information on the services they provide.

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
icisf.org

The Washington State Tactical Officers Association (WSTOA) strives to elevate the professionalism of SWAT teams within the state of Washington by providing on-site assessments of requesting teams. 

Process:

Any agency or team that wishes to have SWAT Team assessment should:

• Determine the team’s purpose and identify specific needs and goals for the assessment.
• Determine the composition of the assessment team
• Approve WSTOA’s proposal, which will be based on the teams stated goals for the assessment
• Schedule on-site visit(s)
• Complete assessment forms and on-site assessments and interviews
• Conduct out-brief to the team contact(s)
• Prepare written report detailing the findings of the assessment and provide to the team contact(s)
• Conduct follow-up assessments with team contact(s) if requested or needed

Suggested Areas to be Evaluated:

• Unit management & command structure
• Policies and Procedures
• Personnel selection/retention/dismissal
• Command & Control
• Training & training documentation
• Equipment usage, selection & retention
• Use of Force
• Operational Deployment Procedures
• Review of past call-outs
• After action documentation
• Other areas requested by the host team or suggested by WSTOA

Analysis:

The WSTOA will compare teams against the established benchmarks of the Associations “Suggested SWAT Best Practices” document.

Assessment Team Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish assessment team composition
• Make contract with requesting agency/team and confirm contact information
• Provide written proposal
• Make request for and obtain the following from the requesting agency/team:
• Copy of Policies & Procedures
• Copy of training documentation & records
• Call out category percentages and sample after action reports
• Agency / team demographics to include
• Type of agency (Federal/State/City), type of team, agency/team  structure (full-time/part time), political environment, team staffing level, agency & team organizational chart, team history & milestone, and command structure
• Provide host agency with Self-Assessment  Review reports
• Team member questionnaire
• Self-Assessment Checklist
• Organization and Structure Checklist
• Policy Checklist
• Training Checklist
• TEMS Checklist
• Negotiations Checklist
• Equipment Checklist
• Scheduling of the assessment visit(s) and finalization of logistical requirements
• Travel to host agency / on-site assessment
• Compile on-site documentation to include photos, recordings and any thing else identified during the visit, if necessary
• Conduct out-brief with the host agency/team contact(s) and provide date of assessment completion
• Prepare and return written assessment
• Review assessment with WSTOA Board and District Member representatives

For more information or to schedule a SWAT Team Assessment, please contact Wayne DuBois at wdubois@CI.RICHLAND.WA.US

DISTRICT 3

Mason County Sheriff’s Office

POC: Sgt. Travis Adams
POC Office #: (360) 427-9670 ext. 622
POC Cell #: (360) 661-5310
POC Dispatch: (360) 427-9670 ext. 226 or 227
POC email: tadams@so.co.mason.wa.us
APC Type: LAV-150
Parameters for use: Will respond anywhere within Homeland Security Region III upon request.  May go further on a case by case basis.

Washington State Patrol - Olympia

POC: Detective Sgt. Chris Sweet
POC Office #: (360) 577-4147
POC Cell #: (360) 901-9300
POC email: chris.sweet@wsp.wa.gov
APC Type: Lenco Bear, V-150
Non-APC: Command/Supply F-550, 2 Polaris 4X4 ATV’s
Parameters for use: WSP SWAT will provide the vehicle with two WSP SWAT operators to drive/maintain and follow WSP SWAT policy.  WSP SWAT TL Detective Sgt. Chris Sweet will need to review the requesting team’s mission narrative (verbal or email) and /or operational plan prior to implementation.  Depending on mission type, Sgt. Sweet may have to request WSP Command approval prior to usage.  The non-APC vehicles are available to any team that may need them.

 

 

DISTRICT 5

Tacoma Police Department

POC: Sgt. Pete Habib
POC Office #: (253) 591-5928
POC Cell #: (253) 405-5365
POC Pager #: (253) 934-2026
POC email: phabib@cityoftacoma.org
APC Type: Lenco Bear (2WD)
Parameters for use: Will respond anywhere in Western Washington with a crew of 2 operators to drive and operate radio/navigate/support.

 

 

DISTRICT 6

King County Sheriff’s Office

POC: Sgt. Don Ellis & Sgt. J.K. Pewitt
POC Cell #: Ellis – (206) 423-0966  Pewitt – (206) 423-8344
POC Pager #: Ellis – (206) 995-2823  Pewitt – (206) 993-5577
POC email: delis@kingcounty.gov   james-k.pewitt@kingcounty.gov
APC Type: Lenco B.E.A.R., LAV-150
Parameters for use: King County agencies unless a request has been made prior to the need.  In the event of a mutual aid request, we will most likely go into surrounding counties.  We will provide the driver and one other deputy to manage the systems.

Seattle Police Department

POC: Lt. Steve Wilske
POC Cell #: (206) 423-1565
POC Dispatch #: (206) 684-8640
POC email: Steve.Wilske@Seattle.Gov
APC Type: Lenco BearCat
Parameters for use: With appropriate notice, we will go anywhere in the State.  Any team equipment can be requested and transported as well.

Valley Special Response Team

POC: Will Lathrup
POC Cell #: mobile/pager (253) 261-7466
POC Dispatch #: Valley Communications Center at (253) 372-1434 and ask for an on
                         duty Valley Swat Commander
POC Email: wlathrop@auburnwa.gov
APC Type: Bearcat, Peace Keeper, V150
Parameters for use: To be negotiated at the time of requests but most likely we will drive the vehicle to your scene and we will a driver during the callout that is familure with the vehicle operation.

 

 

DISTRICT 7

Washington State Patrol - Ellensburg

POC: Detective Sgt. Chris Sweet
POC Office #: (360) 577-4147
POC Cell #: (360) 901-9300
POC email: chris.sweet@wsp.wa.gov
APC Type: Lenco Bear
Non-APC: Command/Supply F-550
Parameters for use: WSP SWAT will provide the vehicle with two WSP SWAT operators to drive/maintain and follow WSP SWAT policy.  WSP SWAT TL Detective Sgt. Chris Sweet will need to review the requesting team’s mission narrative (verbal or email) and /or operational plan prior to implementation.  Depending on mission type, Sgt. Sweet may have to request WSP Command approval prior to usage.  The non-APC vehicles are available to any team that may need them.

 

 

DISTRICT 8

Tri-City Regional SWAT

POC: Sgt. Jon Law
POC Office #: (509) 735-6555
POC Cell #: (509) 531-0097 or 438-1232
POC Pager #: (509) 737-5519
POC email: jon.law@co.benton.wa.us
APC Type: Peacekeeper, V150
Parameters for use: Each request is subject to authorization by the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Will respond to any reasonable request with a minimum crew of 2 operators to drive and operate radio/navigate/support.

 

If you are interested in being listed on the APC Directory, please email the following information to Wayne DuBois at wdubois@ci.richland.wa.us

• Contact name
• Contact cell#, office #, and pager #
• Contact email address
• Parameters for use