By Leslie Hollandsworth
Two law enforcement snipers took position outside of the First National Bank in Ronceverte Friday morning, and carefully watched the facility for any indications of what the "armed robber" was doing inside. They related their observations to the other members of the Greenbrier County Sheriff's Special Response Team, which was waiting just down the street, ready to storm the business.
Given the go-ahead, six members of the team, working in pairs, entered the bank. Their presence was met by a volley of "gunfire" and then silence. They conducted a thorough tactical search, and in just a few short minutes, they had removed the hostages from the threatening situation and taken the perpetrator into custody.
They ran a successful drill. No one got hurt, all of the civilians made it out without incident, and the "robber" was caught. The staged bank robbery was the culmination of a 10-day training undertaken by nine officers with the Greenbrier County Sheriff's Department.
Funding for the training, which was conducted by Pat Goodale, was awarded from the federal government through a homeland security grant. Goodale has conducted similar trainings throughout the United States, and has more than 25 years of experience in the field. He is retired from the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an intelligence and special operations officer and a weapons tactics instructor. After Friday's exercise, Goodale congratulated the men on their performance. “It went exactly the way we wanted it to go,” he commented. "You should feel pretty good.”
The scenario was simple - a bank robbery that had turned into a hostage situation. But what the members of the SRT would be facing when they entered the bank was mostly unknown. If the crime were really taking place, Goodale said the SRT members would be polled to see who had the most knowledge about the layout of the building they had to enter. They may also opt to pull in a civilian to help assist with that type of information. In addition, the team would rely heavily on the observations of the snipers.” They're the external eyes,” Goodale stated. “Their primary job is collecting and reporting intelligence.”
Although Friday's "robbery" was staged, every effort was made to create a scenario that mimics what could happen in real life. Three bank employees served as hostages. Their co-workers observed how the SRT handled the situation. Charles Henthorn, CEO of First National Bank, watched the situation unfold, and said the training exercise was good practice for both the SRT and the bank employees. “Hopefully we'll never be faced with an event like what was staged today, but if we do, I hope the employees are prepared and no one gets injured,” he commented. Kathy King, director of audit and compliance, who also oversees disaster recovery, agreed. “We do training internally,” she said in reference to handling robberies and other emergencies, but noted actually having employees go through the scenario and seeing what can happen adds a new dimension to what they were already taught. Donna Kirby, who works in the loan department, was one of the “hostages.” She said it was an intense experience. “I didn't know we were going to be treated that way,” she noted.
Following protocol, the officers considered the hostages potential suspects, ordering them to put their hands behind their heads and exit the building, until they determined the people were not involved with the crime, but were simply innocent bystanders. Even though it was a controlled situation, Kirby said those acting as hostages were not sure what to expect. The robber “took us back in the office and left us for three to five minutes,” she related. The hostages heard gunfire, and then the officers appeared, yelling at them to turn around and keep their hands visible. “We don't know the good from the bad," trainer Mike Blum explained. "That's why we treat everyone as a threat.” He said this particular exercise was complex due to the layout of the bank and the added issue of a hostage situation.
Because of the hazardous nature of the calls to which the SRT is expected to respond, they have specialized gear and must undergo specific training. The entry kit, for example, includes a variety of tools for prying or forcing open doors and windows. The portion of the kit that is carried on the back weighs approximately 35 to 40 pounds. A 65-pound battering ram completes the package. Then there are the shields. Weighing 40 pounds each, they are equipped with lights that serve to distract and disorient suspects as well as illuminate. They also withstand point blank rifle fire, adding another level of protection beyond the bulletproof vest each team member wears.
Goodale said the SRT members must have the ability to deal with complex situations. According to Blum, they should be able to think on their feet, work as a team and have self-discipline. They undergo physical fitness training, as well as that for marksmanship and use of technical equipment, such as night vision goggles.
Sheriff Albert Lindsey said it is beneficial for his department to have a Special Response Team. Although the state police have similar units in various locations, he noted they cannot arrive on-scene as quickly as a team that is already based here. “Time is crucial,” he pointed out. Lindsey said the county is now better prepared to deal with terrorist threats or other incidents that require special expertise. “It's not a question of if we're going to have use for a team like this, but when,” he commented.
Members of the Greenbrier County Sheriff's Special Response Team prep their gear and make final adjustments before beginning a practical exercise at First National Bank in Ronceverte Friday morning. The staged bank robbery drill was the culmination of a 10-day training session that focused on a variety of tactics for handling such situations.
With SRT officers on standby (at left), Pat Goodale (right), who conducted the SRT training, observes as one of the team members forces the perpetrator of the “robbery” down to the ground and takes him into custody.
L. McKinney photos
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