The Importance of Security Training for Cross-Department Cooperation in Law Enforcement
In 2013 or 2014, SEAL Team 8 found itself in a firefight in Afghanistan and called for a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for backup. Although the team’s speaker wasn’t present, he recounted how SEAL Team 1, based on the West Coast, answered the call despite not usually training with East Coast teams. The two teams had little direct interaction prior to this encounter but shared common security training in tactics. Remarkably, when SEAL Team 1 arrived, they seamlessly integrated with SEAL Team 8, instinctively understanding each other's positions and roles. This tactical cohesion enabled them to outmaneuver the enemy with efficiency and precision, despite having never worked together before.
The speaker used this story to illustrate a point about the importance of unified security training and tactical preparedness, particularly in law enforcement, where similar coordination is often lacking. He noted that while SEALs can achieve this level of seamless cooperation, law enforcement agencies frequently resist the idea of cross-department collaboration, citing concerns that they would never actually work together. This reluctance, he argues, can have serious consequences, as illustrated by the tragedy in Uvalde, where a lack of coordinated response had devastating effects. The speaker expressed frustration at this resistance, emphasizing that improved cooperation could greatly enhance law enforcement effectiveness in critical situations.
