19 Mar 2000
My name is Steve Mescan and I took you Team Tactics Course in May
of 1999. I am a SWAT Team member from the city of Pittsburgh Bureau
of Police. I would like to take minute to express one of my experiences.
On August 27, 1999 I was returning to the station
in a quite area of the city, at approximately three in the morning.
The front of Zone 6 station is almost all glass and not bullet proof.
While walking into the station, two gunman in a vehicle, one with
a 9 mm, and the other with a .45 cal, opened fire on me and three
other officers. The first round missed my head by inches and then
I was struck in the foot once by a 9mm and then with shrapnel from
a .45 caliber.
As the gun fire erupted I found myself, even though
I had been shot, on my shooting platform, working the angle, and
rather than running from the threat putting them under duress. Though
I did not fire a shot, because my back drop was full of residential
houses, the suspects who were caught stated they saw me point my
gun out towards them which caused them to flee. In all 29 shots
were fired at the station.
I credit the training I received from you and your
cadre as to the reason this incident didn't turn out worse. First
I realized the back lighting situation and immediately told another
officer to turn the lights off. I began to move at the suspects
to aquire a site picture while doing so I caught myself "breathing
up" and controlling my adrenaline. I knew I was shot, but because
of the type of training and duress that I was put under during those
three days at Team Tactics, made 29 rounds feel like a walk in the
park. I believe that the training I received helped me not react
so quickly, that I simply reacted with emotion and began to "spray
and pray" out the front of the station house.
Instead, I was able to remain disciplined and turn
the tides of the encounter. I would like to thank you and your staff
for the training I received. It may have saved my life and the lives
of others. I can say, as a trainer, that the Team Tactics Course
was the best course I have been to in my seven year career.
Keep up the good work and if there is anything I
can do for you guys please don't hesitate to ask! I Hope to train
with you again in the future!!
Steve
Mescan
Pittsburgh SWAT |
