Tis the Season

I used to give my SWAT officers a little heads-up this time of year when I reminded them that it was barricade season. When people who have no self-control and can't stand each other are forced together by the holidays and then imbibe copious amounts of alcohol the results are oftentimes domestic fight calls. The worst ones end up as barricaded gunman call-outs when some boozed up goofball threatens his family members with a gun and turns the thing into a barricade with or without hostages or other family members present. My warning was a reminder that in our part of the country team members should make sure that cold weather gear was added to their call-out kit and they were prepared. It can get awful cold working a perimeter position in weather below freezing for eight hours or more.

This is not to make light of the events rather, it was to remind tactical personnel of the increased possibility of domestics and other potential violence during the holiday season. I don't care if you want to blame it on: stress of the season, the economy, increased drug and alcohol usage, whatever, the holidays bring with them an increased level of violence.

So here are some holiday season tips: