On the morning of June 18th, 2004, two Grand Prairie Police Officers responded to a Wal-Mart Store parking lot to investigate a suspicious van. Police received information that the van had been parked at the Wal-Mart store overnight with the engine running.  As the two officers investigated the van, the lone male suspect inside the van began to fire through the van striking both officers.  One of the officers returned fire into the van and both attempted to retreat.  Additional officers responded and rescued the downed officers who were transported to local hospital where one of the officers died from his gunshot wounds.

A standoff ensued where the gunman called his girlfriend and told her what had happened. The gunman further told his girlfriend that he had a bomb inside the van.

Negotiators attempted to contact the gunman inside; however, no communication was received.

During the standoff, SWAT delivered chemical agents into the van.  Again, no response was received.

Unsure if the suspect was deceased or if a bomb was present, the Mansfield SWAT Team, utilizing their armored SWAT truck with heavy-duty ballistic protection, moved the Grand Prairie SWAT Team approximately five feet from the suspect’s van. The Mansfield SWAT Team opened a small port in the armored truck and utilizing their TacView pole mounted camera, searched the interior of the van while remaining in the armored truck. Once the camera was placed inside the van, SWAT officers observed the lone suspect who appeared to be deceased.  A further search of the van did not reveal any apparent explosive devises. While maintaining the camera on the suspect, Grand Prairie SWAT officers entered the van and confirmed that the suspect was deceased.

The TacView pole mounted camera was instrumental in the safe and successful conclusion of a long, hot, and emotional stand off.  The TacView allowed SWAT personnel to safely remain inside an armored vehicle while searching the interior of  the suspect’s vehicle.

The Mansfield SWAT Team has owned a TacView pole mounted camera for over a year.  Although utilizing the system in many training environments, this was the first actual operation where the system was used.

Sgt. Stan Davis
Mansfield Police Department
SWAT Unit
1601 Heritage Parkway, Mansfield, Texas 76063

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JUNE 2004:

Elizabeth G. Morris, Investigator

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Conroe Texas

Special Investigation Unit/Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force

 Re: TacView Camera

Date:  June 2004

 The Conroe Police Department has the TacView camera and uses it on a regular basis in both training and in tactical situations. The Special Investigation Unit utilizes the camera during search warrants, undercover buys, and surveillance. One particular incident which proved to be the most cost saving and reduction of risk to personnel use of the camera to date involved a Methamphetamine lab search warrant in Waller County. Intelligence provided indicated a railroad tank car had been buried on the property and was being used as a lab to cook methamphetamine. During execution of the warrant the buried tank car was located. A visual check from the above ground entry hatch revealed one side of the tank was collapsing. We were unable to determine the existence a lab from the hatch because of its location at the end of the car and the unlit interior. Because of the tank car’s condition, personnel were not able to enter per Haz Mat and OSHA regulations. To determine the contents of the tank car, heavy equipment was requested to dig it up prior to inspection. I advised the on scene supervisor we had the TacView camera and was told to give it a try. With the assistance of one investigator, I was able to lower the pole camera fully extended and examine the entire length, width, and contents of the tank car. This took approximately ten minutes from start to finish with no damage to property or unnecessary exposure to personnel. The camera paid for itself tenfold in the time, effort, manpower, and equipment that would have been required to excavate the tank car. We continue to use the camera in tight dark spaces, such as crawl spaces under a house, dog houses, and attics, where we used to have to send a person with a flashlight. Use of the camera greatly minimizes the risk to our tactical team members and narcotics personnel because we no longer have to belly crawl under structures and fight snakes and critters on their level or pop our heads up through an attic entrance hoping a suspect is not waiting in the corner to harm anything exposing itself through the entry.

NOTE:  If you can see the barrel of the bad guy's weapon...his bullet can hit your eye.  

IT'S  NOT  THAT  WAY  ANYMORE!!!

When officers are searching for a barricaded suspect or just checking an open door, we clear rooms and buildings, slice the pie, sometimes break and rake windows and even take a quick-peek or two in order to locate a suspect depending on how we were trained or what the situation requires. We do this by looking around the corner or through a window with our eyes or with a handheld mirror or pole-mounted mirror (providing there is light to illuminate our view).  Even if our department has a huge budget with a fully equipped Tactical Team or SWAT team equipped with Kevlar helmets, our problem is that you have to still see the suspect. 

We hate to admit when we are vulnerable, but even the best set of goggles or the best helmet with an attached face shield cannot even begin to protect your eyes, your face or your frontal lobe. In order to identify a suspect while clearing a building, you have to see him with your eyes and determine if he is armed.  Guess what you’re exposing?  (If you have read this far, then you already know.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your eyes can see the suspect’s barrel, then the suspect can shoot you in the face – am I wrong? I don’t think so.

TacView wants to change that and do it within your agency’s budget. We want do it before another officer gets killed while looking into a window after a break and rake.  (Beaumont, Texas)

TacView has developed  affordable technology. We and other agencies are currently using it. It has already saved one life. (We are now beginning to compile statistics and officer testimonials.) We are firmly convinced that it will save more lives.

Try the TacView  for 30 days with an unconditional money back guarantee.  If you don’t like it for any reason, return it for a complete refund - we will even pay for the shipping both ways.

After you receive your first TacView product, I think that you’ll say what the first officer said when he used it at the home of a barricaded 67 year old cancer patient who shot a patrol Lt. in the leg from a distance with bird shot. The Tactical Team Sgt. was able to position the TacView around the corner of the building, never exposing his own face while looking at the suspect on the monitor, talking to the suspect from behind cover and negotiating a surrender. At the same time, the Sgt. was able to watch the suspect walk out of the doorway of the home toward the direction of the arrest team. Unfortunately, the suspect approached the arrest team with his hands behind his back. (Was this suicide by cop?)  Well, using TacView, the Sgt. and the officers standing next to the Sgt. looking at the TacView monitor were the only people who could see the suspect’s hands which were behind the suspect’s back. The Sgt., using TacView, was able to clearly see that the suspect’s hands were empty and was able to relay this information to the arrest team.  If it were not for this view, the arrest team may have had a legitimate reason to believe that the suspect was still armed - Remember, the suspect had already shot an officer in the leg.

At the end of the stand off and a successfully negotiated surrender, the Sgt. said enthusiastically, "We need ten of these!"    

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MARCH 2004:

NORTHERN ILLINOIS POLICE ALARM SYSTEM
Emergency Services Team
P.O. Box 96
Wheeling, IL 60090-0096

March 29, 2004

Dear George and Julie,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note regarding your TacView Camera. The NIPAS EST Team has been keeping extremely busy this past year. This means your camera system has been getting a thorough workout. I have included an article from one of the local papers, which captured a photo of our team deploying the camera. Thanks again for all support during the last couple of years.

Sincerely,

Sgt. Ed Roncone
Inv. Commander, Libertyville police Department
Assistant Entry Team Leader, NIPAS EST
 

(Regarding a newspaper story about TacView...)

 A good story regarding an extremely useful tool for law enforcement. One reason the product is so valuable is George Gilmer. George has lived the life of a street officer and narcotic task force member. He is one of the finest peace officers I have worked with over a 40 plus yr. career and his integrity is beyond question. If he says it works and is valuable, then you can take it to the bank.
Thanks for the story.   - Randy Sillavan, Retired

Galveston Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics Team...
Each member of the Team is issued a ballistic vest, a load bearing vest, Kevlar helmet, gas mask,
elbow and knee pads, and tactical headset for radio communication. Most of this equipment, as well as other tactical equipment was recently purchased through grants, donations, fund raisers and contributions from the city. Donators include the 100 Club of Houston and many gracious citizens of Galveston. The ballistic vests, costing over $1200 each, were donated by the 100 Club of Houston. The 100 Club supports law enforcement agencies, their officers and their families in the Houston area.
The Team was able to purchase a TacView pole camera, with donations from Galveston local, Dr. Marty Ivey. The pole camera allows Team members to view into rooms, around corners, and into danger areas without exposing themselves in the open. Since the purchase, the Team has used the camera in two call-ups within the last six months.
 

Coby Briehn of the Temple Police Department, Temple, Texas says he and his team have utilized the TacView cameras in various ways.  This police department purchased 3 TacView cameras. Detective Briehn states, "We can use the camera to observe a hallway while securing a room, such as in a static situation while the rescue team is moving victims to a secured room. Also, the camera can be mounted on a shield, with either a vice clamp or the "shield mount" device that TacView provides. This lets me clear a room by using the shield and letting who ever is behind me see what I see or maybe even see it before I can. I like the TacView because the monitor is detachable from the pole system and can be turned to show the proper layout instead of trying to rotate the camera to show the room. It works great in low and no light situations.

Having 3 cameras, the Temple Police Department has a unique situation in that they can use the cameras to monitor several rooms at a time without ever entering the rooms.  Someone at "the command post or a team member can watch the monitor from a safe (and hidden) location by clipping the camera to a window ledge, bush/shrub or a fence," says Detective Briehn.  He adds, "We also have the small bore scope, and we can use that to look under doors." 

Detective Briehn has also been pleased with the TacView customer service.  He states, "Every time I call TacView with a question or suggestion it has been taken care of promptly."

The US Marshals Service, Southern District of Indiana, is the lead agency for the Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team which is a multi-jurisdictional warrant squad that operates in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.  “We recently purchased a TACVIEW device to assist Task Force Officers during searches for wanted persons.  We routinely arrest fugitives who hide in attics, crawl spaces, basements and other areas that are either hard to access or dangerous to search.  The device has allowed Officers to search these places safely and effectively.  Since we operate at all hours of the day and night under varying light conditions, the Infrared feature gives us an additional tool to search an area without exposing or identifying our location by utilizing a flashlight.” 

The following is a brief synopsis of an incident in which our SRT utilized the TacView 1400 Pole Cam. Several weeks ago we were contacted by neighboring Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office to assist them in apprehending a fugitive from Texas. The suspect had allegedly stabbed an individual nearly 100 times and was being sought after by the Texas Rangers. Our Special Response Team arrived on the scene and was informed that the suspect was inside a residence with other subjects as well as young children. Upon gaining entrance to the two story residence, deputies discovered a white male asleep on the couch. He was not, however, the suspect they were looking for and continued to search, all the while not waking anyone in the residence. The team then used the TacView 1400 Pole Cam to look upstairs and was able to identify other subjects in the residence. Now knowing where everyone in the house was located, team members were able to use stealth to search the house, secure the other occupants, and eventually apprehend the suspect after awakening him to the sight of SRT members standing over his bed. The subject was apprehended without incident and was eventually turned over to the Texas authorities. The use of the pole cam enabled the team members to quietly search multiple rooms both upstairs and downstairs with little or no movement that might give away their presence in the residence. We have found the TacView 1400 Pole Cam to be a valuable tool that greatly enhances the safety and effectiveness of our Special Response Team. - Sheriff Willie Graves

George Gilmer is one of the finest people that I have had the privilege to know. Not to mention one of the most brilliant and innovative. This device will prove to be a wonderful legacy for him and will, no doubt, be instrumental in saving the lives of Police Officers and Soldiers alike. Excellent job George! - Bryan Carlisle, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Dept. -CNT Asst. Coordinator

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Copyright © 2008 TacView®, Inc.    Last modified: January 31, 2008