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Ronald M. McCarthy
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Ronald M. McCarthy served as a Los Angeles police officer for over twenty-four. He was assigned to the department's tactical unit, Metro Division, for 20 years and retired from Special Weapons and Tactics as the senior supervisor and assistant commander in 1984. Ronald McCarthy was the chief of Tactical Operations for the U.S. Department of Energy from 1984 through 1986. He was the director of the Deadly Force Training Grants for the U.S. Department of Justice and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) from 1986 through 1988. Ronald McCarthy served as manager for IACP's Center for Advanced Police Studies from 1985 through 1992.

 

Since 1992, Ronald McCarthy has been the owner of R.M. McCarthy & Associates, a training, consulting, and marketing resource for law enforcement. He has trained police officers from Europe, South America, the Middle East, and more than 30,000 police officers and military here in the United States.

 

Ronald McCarthy was awarded the Los Angeles Police Department Medal of Valor for action against the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1975, and the Police Star for the rescue of hostages in 1983. He was presented with the National Tactical Officers Association Award for Excellence in 1990. In 1995 the City of Erie, Pa., presented him with the All American Hero Award for his service to law enforcement throughout the United States. In October of 1996, Ronald McCarthy was awarded the National Tactical Officers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

Ronald McCarthy is the co-author of The Management of Police Specialized Tactical Units.  According to the book description, “Managerial responsibility of a SWAT team requires continuous research in the material area of long-term criminal trends as well as keeping abreast of new developments in relevant tactics, technology, and techniques of law enforcement and the legal issues covering their use. The Management of Police Specialized Tactical Units explains the steps for developing and maintaining a realistic, effective response to increasing levels of violent crime. The book makes extensive use of actual field examples such as the North Hollywood Bank of America Shootout, the Mogadishu Airport Incident, the Springle Street Incident, and the confrontation between police and the Symbionese Liberation Army. Chapter Six discusses the various types and sources of equipment designed to give tactical units more effective technological choices and includes examples of practical application, and the advantages and disadvantages of use. It answers questions of law regarding when and under what circumstances the equipment may be used. Chapter Ten focuses on the partnership needed between law enforcement and the media. The importance of cooperation is stressed to ensure safety of police officers, hostages, news personnel, and bystanders during a hostage situation. Suggestions for establishing trust and credibility are presented. The final chapter explores tactical operations of the future when dealing with increasingly violent encounters with juvenile offenders, the phenomenon of “suicide-by-cop,” and the likelihood of terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction.”


The Management of Police Specialized Tactical Units
Tomas C., Ph.D. Mijares  More Info

According to he Los Angeles Police Department, “Since 1967, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Weapons And Tactics Team (SWAT) has provided a ready response to situations that were beyond the capabilities of normally equipped and trained Department personnel. Since its inception, LAPD SWAT Team members have affected the safe rescue of numerous hostages, arrested scores of violent suspects and earned hundreds of commendations and citations, including several Medals of Valor, the Department’s highest award for heroism in the line of duty. Today, the LAPD SWAT Team is known worldwide as one of the foremost police tactical units in contemporary law enforcement.  The need for SWAT expertise and assistance with warrant service is dependent upon: unusual circumstances beyond the capabilities of normal warrant service; heavily fortified location; weapons are present and have been used in the past; gang members are known to be present; use of diversionary tactics is anticipated; and, door and window pulls are anticipated.

The special weapons and tactics concept originated in the late 1960s as a result of several sniping incidents against civilians and police officers around the country. Many of these incidents occurred in Los Angeles during and after the Watts Riot. Upon critical examination of how each incident was managed by police, the leadership of the LAPD realized that an effective response to these dangerous situations was virtually non-existent. Officer John Nelson presented the special weapons and tactics concept to a young inspector by the name of Darryl F. Gates. Inspector Gates concurred and approved the concept of a small group of highly disciplined officers utilizing special weapons and tactics to cope with these unusual and difficult attacks.”

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