NCJ Number
29901
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 23 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 56-60
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, AND OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE NEW YORK CITY EMERGENCY SERVICES UNIT (ESU) ARE DESCRIBED, AND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL ESU OPERATIONS ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
NEW YORK CITY DOES NOT HAVE A SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS (SWAT) TEAM AS SUCH. INSTEAD, HEAVY POLICE COMBAT SITUATIONS COME UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ESU. ESU IS COMPRISED OF 300-SOME MEN AND 40-ODD SUPERIORS. ITS FUNCTION IS TO COPE WITH ALL MANNER OF LIFETHREATENING EMERGENCIES, FROM RESCUING TRAPPED CITIZENS OUT OF ELEVATORS OR SUBWAYS, TO COAXING SUICIDAL JUMPERS OFF BRIDGES, TO RESUSCITATING HEART ATTACK VICTIMS AND EXTRICATING DRIVERS FROM TWISTED WRECKS. THEY PATROL IN LIGHT, EQUIPMENT-PACKED TRUCKS INSTEAD OF CRUISERS, AND ARE BACKED UP BY MASSIVE TRUCKS CARRYING EVERY KIND OF HEAVY RESCUE EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE TWO BASIC SITUATIONS WHERE THE ESU MEN ARE ARMED AND CALLED IN. ONE IS THE BARRICADE SITUATION, WHICH OCCURS ONCE A MONTH AND OFTEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THE OTHER IS THE 'HEAVY ARREST,' WHERE DETECTIVES ARE GOING IN AFTER SUSPECTS REPUTED TO BE WELL ARMED, AND CALL ON ESU MEN TO HANDLE ENTRY AND ANY RESISTANCE. SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE NEW YORK CITY ESU INCLUDE RIGID CONTROL OF FIREPOWER; PLACEMENT OF POLICE COMBAT RESPONSIBILITY IN THE HANDS OF OFFICERS WHO CONSTANTLY DEAL WITH DEADLY EMERGENCIES; AND STANDARDIZED USE OF ESU'S COMBAT WEAPONS SPECIALISTS IN VIRTUALLY ALL PREDICTABLY DANGEROUS ARREST SITUATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)