NCJ Number
182925
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2000 Pages: 104-107
Date Published
April 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
In hostage-taking, barricaded suspects, and other special situations, the availability of a well-prepared sniper team is essential for a coordinated response effort.
Abstract
With the proper equipment and individual skills, sniper team members can control or eliminate a threat while minimizing the risks to the public and responding personnel. Moreover, in some of the worst-case hostage incidents, the tactical snipers could be the difference between a successful rescue operation and a massacre. Two case stories are described to illustrate this fact. In discussing missions and organization of the sniper team, the author notes that snipers are typically assigned the following basic missions: observation and tactical intelligence gathering through the use of rifle-mounted optical sights and powerful long-range binoculars; the elimination or neutralization of targets by short-range or long-range "surgical" shooting; and the suppression of targets in support of advancing entry teams or other tactical elements. Sniper teams are normally composed of a shooter, armed with a high-velocity precision rifle, and an observer equipped with long-range optics. Snipers are tactically controlled by the onsite commander from a central fire-base through the use of advanced sniper coordination systems. This article also describes the special training for sniper team members, the features of sniper rifles, and sniper coordination systems.