Wednesday, August 25, 2010

前線突擊警衛 ∕ Front-line SWAT Team and Police Officers

Perspective One:

In the risk management business, there is no guarantee that if one takes actions ABC, then one will have the desirable outcome XYZ. Yes, there are some best practices to follow and many risk-mitigation factors to consider during a take-down or hostage situation (which the public "learn" from watching "Dog Day Afternoon", "The Taking of Pelham 123", etc). But, just like the stock market, the outcome is never guaranteed. It is often the volatile human emotions/reactions that create a lot of the uncertainties which in turn throw a curve to any linear predictions of the outcome based on past experience, current rationality and future trajectory. Let's not forget that beside the crime victims, the front-line officers too are often the ones that pay for the price of their own actions, inactions, or mistakes, but not the general public watching the news on TV at home.

References:
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayerthorpe_incident
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritwood_Incident
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swat_Team (photo credit)

Perspective Two:

【明報專訊】90分鐘磨難歷歷在目 事件真相能療市民傷痛

菲律賓港人旅客無辜被屠殺慘劇,他們的遺體昨晚返抵安全的家——香港,讓死者安息,是生者理所當然的責任;另外,在全面照顧慘劇傷者和6個破碎家庭的同時,政府應該思考如何使整體市民走出傷痛,並特別要使在港菲傭不致成為無能菲警的代罪羔羊。.....

此事之急轉直下,發生在周一晚上約7時15分,在合家歡黃金時段,透過電視直播,全港市民、一家大小,一同觀看使人驚慄的約90分鐘腥風血雨。由於菲律賓警方顢頇無能,90分鐘內現場不時傳出槍聲,15名人質在旅遊巴內身處槍林彈雨、孤立無援的磨難,市民感同身受,許多人都哭了出來。....

香港市民目睹這次慘劇之後,已經進入「悲痛周期」(grief-cycle)。要使市民的心理和情緒平復,最有效莫如事件真相大白,公義得到伸張,枉死同胞取回公道。關於這次慘劇,市民看在眼裏,相信都會得出「菲警無能,港人枉死」的結論,但是以菲律賓總統阿奎諾三世在記者會的說法、總統府所發表聲明,已經為慘劇定調,把槍手獸性大發,歸咎電視直播讓槍手看到警方帶走他的弟弟,激怒槍手而大開殺戒。...

調查報告最終是否按這個調子完成,尚待揭盅,不過,若報告以此定調,與香港市民透過電視直播目睹的情存在巨大差距,可以肯定的說,市民不會接受「電視直播導致屠殺的結論」。以菲律賓予人的印象,對她會否大公無私調查此事,不敢樂觀。因此,調查結果公布之日,可能是市民心中鬱結爆發之時,當怒火燃燒起來之後,會造成怎樣的衝擊,無法預估。....

所以,政府除了已經採取的措施,接下來要努力盡量爭取一個獨立、客觀、公正、可信的調查結果,使市民的怒火不致爆發,衝擊社會穩定。昨日,我們建議中國政府或特區政府,爭取派專家參與或觀察菲律賓的調查,使結果能夠取信於民,政府官員以外交困難,初步排除了這個建議。...

總之,關於這次港人被屠殺事件,不少市民都有心理問題,政府應設法減輕市民內心不安可能對社會構成的負面影響。

References:
* http://news.mingpao.com/20100826/mra.htm (source of Chinese text above)
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_hostage_crisis
* http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/08/25/philippines-bodies-return.html

4 comments:

the inner space said...

Dear Hari Big Brother,the manila SWAT team I saw on TV were described on my blog as "眼見啲馬尼拉 SWAT 隊,祇像一般普通警察,穿上避彈衣,戴個頭盔,拿起長槍,咁就去強攻巴士。連起碼的“特種部隊”裝備和策略都欠缺。"

and described by Macy 姐:"對於低B及懦弱菲警老鼠拉龜,引致港人喪命,實在非常憤怒!中間多次的營救機會都被菲警錯失,不明白為什麼搶手只要求復職,仍會引致多名港人傷亡? 看見菲國的所謂"特種部隊"軟(笨)手軟(笨)腳救人,兼且絲毫無損,八條港人人命實在是枉送!"

Your photograph's SWAT team NONE comparable with the Manila SWAT team. From your given link:
[Wikipedia]:A SWAT (special weapons and tactics)team is an elite paramilitary tactical unit in American law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers. Their duties include performing hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations, serving high risk arrest and search warrants, subduing barricaded suspects, and engaging heavily-armed criminals. A SWAT team is often equipped with specialized firearms including submachine guns, assault rifles, breaching shotguns, riot control agents, stun grenades and sniper rifles. They have specialized equipment including heavy body armor, ballistic shields, entry tools, armored vehicles, advanced night vision optics, and motion detectors for covertly determining the positions of hostages or hostage takers inside of an enclosed structure.


Furthermore, 再者:
Today I watched on TV News the CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) unit of Manila, they were not even wearing any gloves when examining the prime crime scene (the coach bus) and extracting evidence items.

新鮮人 said...

微兄,
事情兩面睇是對的,
但從客觀態度黎看,
菲警今次嘅行動差劣無比,
簡直尤如毫無訓練的新手一樣,
個人覺得怎樣的"兩面睇"都顯示出他的愚笨和無能!

Haricot 微豆 said...

Space:

re: 馬尼拉特種部隊/警察

Thanks to the link. I did read your blog article a few days ago.

According to the news media, there will be an inquiry to be conducted by the Philippine govt. Hopefully, ppl investigating this tragic incident will also look into the preparedness and performance, or lack thereof, of the Manila police and SWAT team.

Haricot 微豆 said...

新鮮人:

>> ... 菲警差劣無比

It's unfortunate that it took a disaster with loss of lives to find out!!!

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