August 19
August 19, 2008
Edna Breaux Uzee
August 21, 2008
The caution tape around Long Hall on Nicholls State University campus Monday warned people “DO NOT ENTER” as local SWAT teams were participating in weapons and tactics training.
The two-day session that ended yesterday stems from a training exercise that was held at Nicholls last summer. State police trained university officers on deployment tactics.
“Nicholls’ police officers are trained to remove a hostile individual who could potentially cause harm to others,” said University Police Chief Craig Jaccuzzo. “If the person is barricaded in a building or has taken a hostage, then SWAT teams re-enforcement is called in.”
Once Jaccuzzo found out that the dorm would be available, he figured it was the perfect time to invite the SWAT teams over to simulate a crisis situation on campus. The training gives local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to view the campus infrastructure and coordinate the type of tools that would be needed to breach a building, he explained.
“This is one more way to show how local law enforcement agencies are adapting to the situational changes occurring on college campuses,” Jaccuzzo said.
Although SWAT teams engage in continuous training, state police Lt. Duane Schexnayder said
anytime the Louisiana State Police SWAT can get the opportunity to train on a university campus they take advantage of it.
“This is all in the spirit of interagency cooperation,” he said.
The Louisiana SWAT team is comprised of three 21-member platoons and a seven-member crisis negotiator squad.
The group responds to incidents that are beyond the capabilities of traditional law enforcement, using specialized equipment, weapons and tactics, Schexnayder said.
Schexnayder emphasized the preferred way to handle the situation through negotiations.
However, if force is needed, SWAT has two ways to breach a building. This particular training dealt with breach entry to find barricaded shooters and hostage takers.
The two ways of entry range from the simple – using mechanical tools – to more hazardous methods, namely using explosive.
Schexnayder said both have proven to be effective in incidents such as serving arrest and search warrants on known violent offenders, providing security at high-profile public events and resolving hostage or barricaded active shooter situations.
Other SWAT groups that participated in the two-day training were Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption sheriff’s offices, as well as the Thibodaux and Houma police departments.
Louisiana State Police SWAT member Craig Stewart suits up for Monday’s training session in Nicholls State’s Long Hall. The site provided the backdrop for two days of intense weapons and tactical training. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
