When Charles Whitman sprayed bullets in a brutal killing spree from the heights of the University of Texas clock tower in 1966, he single-handedly made history by dashing the security of millions and changing law enforcement forever. In the wake of this horrifying event, SWAT - Special Weapons and Tactics - teams were born. Since that time, such desperate, bloody face-offs with police have steadily increased, making SWAT an invaluable and necessary part of law enforcement. Captain Snow, author of the acclaimed Protecting Your Life, Home, and Property, and a police officer with over 25 years experience, delivers to the reader the immediacy of actual SWAT events - including both the notorious and the bizarre. We get a chilling glimpse into the desperate, twisted mind of the hostage taker - often hovering precariously between violence and suicide - and witness the brilliant, life-saving strategies SWAT commanders put into action to stop them. As Captain Snow demonstrates, whether intervening during a tension-filled hostage showdown or serving an arrest warrant to a heavily armed drug lord, SWAT teams are, in general, uniquely prepared to handle the most volatile and life-threatening police situations with poise, speed, and - when necessary - deadly force. From the unnerving events in Waco to the thousands of successes every year, Snow analyzes what works and doesn't work in a SWAT team. When the smoke clears, we find at the heart of this book the inspiring story of professionals who have dedicated their lives to saving others. Captain Snow gives us the real story behind the Hollywood image - at once exciting and sobering - of this relatively new and increasingly vital branch of law enforcement.
Robert L. Snow served for 38 years at the Indianapolis Police Department, retiring in 2007 with the rank of captain. While at the police department he served in such capacities as Police Department Executive Officer, Captain of Detectives, and Commander of the Homicide Branch.
Robert L. Snow has also been a publishing writer for over 30 years. He has had over 100 articles and short stories published in such magazines as Playboy, Reader's Digest, the National Enquirer, The Writer, Police, The Saint Detective Magazine, and others. In addition, he has had thirteen books published. Almost all of Captain Snow's published works were written so that readers could use his knowledge of law enforcement to better protect themselves and their loved ones.
