There may be no US tactical and rescue unit more well known than the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit or ESU. Featuring a mission set that ranges from high angle ropes work to water rescue, from high-risk search warrants to hostage rescue, and from CBRN response to counter terrorism, ESU has sometimes been described as 911 for NYPD.

My guest today is Joe Bucchignano (pron: Buck-ig-nano). Joe started his emergency service career in 1997, working as an EMT and completing paramedic school in 1999. Joe worked as a full-time paramedic until 2003 when he joined the New York City Police Department and spent his first 7 years assigned to the 52nd precinct in the Norwood section of the Bronx. In 2010 Joe was selected to join the ranks of the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit, or ESU, where he spent the next 13 years of his career. During his ESU tenure Joe's assignments included patrol is ESU Truck 3 and Truck 1, being an adjunct tactics and medical instructor at ESU's Specialized Training School, and he finished his career as a full-time member of the ESU Apprehension Tactical Team. Joe also served with NY Task Force 1, a joint police and fire Urban Search and Rescue team which is part of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue response system. There he deployed several times to natural disasters within the United States as a rescue and logistics specialist.

Joe retired from the NYPD in June of 2023 and now serves as an Assistant Paramedic Coordinator for an EMS agency in Westchester County, NY. He is also the founder of Crisis Zone Consulting, a multi-disciplined training and consulting company which works with public safety agencies, private entities, and individuals to enhance their organizational and individual emergency preparedness.

This episode gives us an inside view of one of the world’s premier units. Including how they train, how they operate, how they manage their ridiculously diverse skill set, and the lessons learned by an ESU veteran.

Contact Info: https://crisiszoneconsulting.com/

The evolution of special tactics in the United States is a complicated story whose roots lie in the violent social and political environment of the late 1960s. Highly unusual and televised events like the Texas tower sniper in 1966 and the Munich Massacre in 1972 created the need to develop special units to respond to events that were beyond the capabilities of patrol officers. While Southern California often receives all the credit for the development of special tactics, because of the efforts of LAPD D-Platoon and LASD SEB, it is important to understand that the west coast was not the only region trying to develop special tactics teams. In fact, by the early 1980's there were numerous regions who were all following parallel paths of development albeit in different stages. In these regions, tactical associations began to form that were focused on sharing information and training among agencies. One of these early associations was the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) which was formed in 1984 and this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This seemed a perfect time to do an episode on the evolution and history of SWAT in Texas as well as the history and impact of TTPOA.

My guests today are three influential figures in TTPOA.

Lt. Dan Colasanto is the current president of TTPOA. Dan is a 30-year veteran of the Garland Police Department with 28 of those years spent on the SWAT team. Dan has worked in Patrol, Narcotics and SWAT and is also a graduate of the United States Military Academy and an Army veteran. In February 2021, Dan earned a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security with a Concentration in Counter-Terrorism from American Military University. Dan was the SWAT Team Supervisor during the May 3, 2015 ISIS inspired terrorist attack in Garland, TX. Dan also serves as the Intelligence and Terrorism Chair for the NTOA.

Paul Ford has experience spanning both government and private sectors. Paul's diverse roles include being a police officer, instructor, writer, publisher, developer of numerous police training programs, and sales and marketing executive. Paul began his law enforcement career in 1985, assuming roles in patrol, SWAT, and as a detective. Paul spent almost a decade on the Austin Texas SWAT team serving as the unit's training coordinator and team leader. He is the recipient of more than 60 commendations, including three for meritorious conduct. In the 1990s, Paul played a pivotal role in reshaping and expanding TTPOA where he served as Secretary, Vice President, and Editor of Command Magazine. His dedication earned him the Association’s prestigious Excellence Award in 1999. In 2001 Paul transitioned to the private sector where he has held positions at Defense Technology and he is currently the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CSI, known for their CTS and Penn Arms brands.

Sandy Wall is a true legend in Texas tactical community. Sandy spent 28 years with the Houston police department, 22 of which was on Houston SWAT. Sandy is a recipient of the TTPOA Excellence award, the TTPOA lifetime achievement award, and the National Police Associations Top Cop for the State of Texas. He has also received the Houston Police Department Chief's commendation for valor and the officer of the year award. Sandy has served three times as the president of TTPOA. He has also written two books, invented the Wall Banger system, and has taught and testified as an expert all over the United States.

Contact Info:
TTPOA Website - TTPOA
Dan Colesanto – Dan.Colasanto@ttpoa.org
Paul Ford – Email - paulrford@icloud.com - linkedin.com/in/paul-f-7b581214
Sandy Wall - Sandy.wallBanger@yahoo.com.

My guest today is Lionel D. Lio is a retired team leader who spent 15 years with the
Belgian National Police - Directorate of Special Units, or DSU, also know as Group
Diane. I am excited to have Lio on The Debrief because his former unit is a fantastic
team who are constantly on the front lines for European counter terrorism operations,
like the one we will discuss today.

The operation we will be debriefing is a proactive warrant service against a Jihadist terror cell located in the small town of Verviers, Belgium that resulted in an extended gun fight and two suspects down. This raid was intended to, and did, prevent an imminent large-scale attack in Belgium by the terrorist cell that would later go on to commit bombings and attacks in Brussels and Paris.

As is usually the case with The Debrief, we will discuss the responders and, where
appropriate, use their names and units because they are heroes and need to be
remembered. We will NOT be using suspects names or identifying their specific groups,
because they are criminals and terrorists and need to be forgotten.

Books Recommended:
No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL Hardcover – November 10, 2014
by Mark Owen and Kevin Maurer – ISBN13: 978-0525954521

Lio’s Book:
In French - Terrorist Hunter | Editions Racine
In Dutch - Terroristenjager | Uitgeverij Lannoo

Contact Info:
www.lioneld.be
lioneldofficial115@gmail.com

In late August of 2020 the Kentucky State Police Special Response Team attempted to execute search and arrest warrants on a family compound in Johnson Hollow, a heavily wooded and very rural area of Kentucky. The suspect, who was being sought on potential murder and drug related charges, had hiding locations and weapons throughout the compound and had built a series of hardened firing positions from which to attack officers. In the 48 hours that followed, the team would have two Officer involved shootings with two different suspects all on the same compound.

This event would stretch the team and its resources to their limits, yet the team rose to the challenge yielding a successful outcome despite almost impossible conditions. This case provides numerous lessons learned and teaching points about rural operations and the dangers of unexpected challenges. My guests today are Sgt. Heath Ayers and Trooper Logan Smith from the Kentucky State Police Special Response Team.

Links

Two fatally shot in KSP involved shootings in Knox County | News | thetimestribune.com

https://www.clayconews.com/news/16719-suspect-fatally-injured-in-2nd-officer-involved-shooting-in-knox-county-ky-victim-in-1st-shooting-identified

Books Recommended

Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown by Eric Blehm - ISBN-13: 978-0307730695

On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace by Dave Grossman & Loren W. Christensen - ISBN-13:‎ 978-0964920545

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Dave Grossman - ISBN-13: 978-0316040938

Contact Info

Logan Smith – logan.smith@ky.gov

My guest today is Dr. Dan Dworkis. Dan is a board-certified emergency physician, an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the founder of The Emergency Mind Project, and the Chief Medical Officer at the Mission Critical Team Institute. Dan performed his emergency medicine residency with Harvard Medical School at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital / Brigham Health and holds an MD and PhD in molecular medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine.

Dan is the author of The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure. He is also the host of The Emergency Mind podcast.
I am excited to have Dan on the debrief because he not only has a unique blend of scientist and practitioner but is someone who has thought very deeply about how our minds work in critical incidents. Additionally, through his work with Mission Critical Team Institute he has looked at how those principles apply to tactical operators and first responders.


Contact Info:
Website: www.emergencymind.com
Email: Dan@emergencymind.com

Book:
The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure - Dan Dworkis MD PhD – ISBN13:‎ 979-8746482327

Books Recommended:
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why - Laurence Gonzales - ISBN13: 978-0393052763
Meditations - Marcus Aurelius - ISBN13: 978-0812968255

Welcome to Battle Proven Leadership. My guest today is Bill Kirst. Bill is an author, poet, podcast host and one of LinkedIn’s Top Thought Leadership Voices on Change Management. Bill authors a monthly newsletter called “Leading Change in the Era of AI” which poses powerful questions while untangling the complex concerns posed by Artificial Intelligence.

Bill has worked at Adobe, Microsoft, IBM, the University of Washington and for nearly two decades has led companies, institutions, and government agencies through digital transformation journeys. Bill sits on the Alumni Board at The Johns Hopkins University. Bill served in the U.S. Army Reserve, finishing his service as a Captain in the Signal Corps. Bill’s podcast “Coffee & Change” was selected as one of the 10 Best Military Leadership Podcasts by FeedSpot.

I really enjoyed this conversation with Bill because he has spent his entire career working in organizational change. Implementing and confronting change is a constant battle for leaders, so it was great to have a chance to look at it through the eyes of an expert.

Contact Info:
LinkedIn
Coffee & Change Podcast – By Bill Kirst

Books Recommended:
Once an Eagle: A Novel - Anton Myrer - ISBN-13: 978-0062221629
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma - Bessel van der Kolk M.D. - ISBN-13: ‎978-0143127741

My guest today is Rich Diviney. Rich is a retired Navy SEAL officer whose career spanned more than twenty years and included more than thirteen overseas deployments – eleven of which were to Iraq and Afghanistan. As the officer in charge of training for an elite Navy SEAL command, Rich spearheaded the creation of a directorate that fused physical, mental, and emotional disciplines.

Since his retirement, Rich has worked as a speaker, facilitator, and consultant with the Chapman & CO. Leadership Institute and Simon Sinek Inc., speaking to and training more than five thousand business, athletic, and military leaders. Rich’s book: The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance is, I think, a must-read book for anyone involved in leadership or in the selection and hiring of personnel.

Books Recommended
Man's Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust by Viktor E. Frankl (Author) - ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1846042843

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Hardcover by Yuval Noah Harari (Author) - ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0062316097

Books Written
The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance by Rich Diviney - ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0593133941

Contact Info
Discover Your Attributes

Pete Blaber commanded at every level of one of the most elite counter-terrorist organizations in the world, The US Army’s First Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta. His time with The Unit included most of recent history’s significant military and political events (Panama, Colombia, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq). In 2006 Pete retired from the military and transitioned from leading elite combat teams around the globe, to leading elite corporate teams for one of the world's largest and most innovative Biotech Companies.

Pete’s first book “The Mission, The Men, And Me, Lessons From a Former Delta Force Commander,” is one of the most widely read books among tactical units and is required reading at many tactical leadership programs. His second book, “The Common Sense Way, A New Way to Think About Leading and Organizing" which builds on the legacy of the first book providing specific and concrete guidance on how to implement common sense into your leadership style. His third, and most recent book “Common Sense Leadership Matters: Toxic Leadership Destroys” is a case study of the death of Pat Tillman and how Toxic Leadership led to Tillman’s death at the hands of friendly fire.

Pete has an MBA and an MS in National Security and Strategic Affairs.

I am excited to speak to Pete not only because he lead one of the most elite combat units, but because he is a very deep thinker on the topic of leadership and has a unique ability to articulate his lessons learned and his research in a very practical and down to earth fashion. I hope you enjoy my chat with Pete Blaber.

Contact Info
https://www.peteblaber.com/

Books Recommended

The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander by Pete Blaber - ISBN-13: 978-0425223727

The Common Sense Way: A New Way to Think About Leading and Organizing by Pete Blaber - ISBN-13: ‎978-0578995878

Common Sense Leadership Matters: Toxic Leadership Destroys by Pete Blaber - ISBN-13:‎ 979-8218224837