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From the record $640,000 jury verdict, with the jury crediting the expert testimony. Hunter v. City of Federal Way, W.D. Wash.
Retention $9,000 flat fee · discovery review and the written report Full case history Washington casework · The deepest state record Florida practice · Based in Naples For Retaining Counsel The Library · Guides for counsel
The practice The team · Three experts, over 110 years Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.) Sheriff Robert Snaza · Independent consultant FBI Special Agent Christopher Holland (Ret.) · Independent consultant Law enforcement expert witness · What the discipline covers
Use of Force · SWAT & High-Risk Operations

SWAT & High-Risk
Operations

Direct line: (239) 571-1840  ·  GregoryGilbertson@proton.me

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only

A tactical operation is won or lost on the planning that preceded it. The analysis starts well before the door: the intelligence the team actually had, the threat assessment and risk matrix that justified a tactical response, the operational plan and briefing, and whether the force used during the entry matched what the plan and national standards contemplated.

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The Scope

What this covers.

Within this engagement

  • SWAT and tactical-team deployment decisions
  • High-risk warrant service and operational planning
  • Threat assessment and risk-matrix justification
  • Operations briefings, assignments and contingency planning
  • Dynamic entry, containment and callout alternatives
  • Force applied during tactical operations
  • Command decisions and on-scene supervision of the operation
How it is analyzed

The operational plan and briefing materials, the threat assessment and any risk matrix, warrant paperwork and the intelligence it rested on, entry and body-worn video, after-action and use-of-force reports, team training records, and the agency's tactical policies, measured against generally accepted tactical standards on the totality of the circumstances.

Engagement terms and the published fee schedule: For Retaining Counsel →

From the Library

Working references for this practice area.

Guides for retaining counsel, written from the same record this analysis reads.

Warrant ServiceWhat Is a High-Risk Warrant Service Plan?Read the guideAsked OftenWhat Is a No-Knock Warrant?Read the guideForce OptionsForce Options and Decision ModelsRead the guideThe StandardGraham v. Connor, Explained for LitigatorsRead the guideThe LensThe Totality of the Circumstances in Force AnalysisRead the guideThe StopThe Traffic Stop as Practiced: Approach, Commands and ControlRead the guide

The Library, in full

“Professor Gilbertson has twice served as my expert in search and seizure and false arrest cases. His analysis and opinions are always spot on.”
Darryl Parker, Attorney at Law · Seattle, WA
Questions

Before the record is sent.

Is a SWAT case about the entry or the planning?
Usually the planning. By the time a team is at the door, the decisions that matter most — whether a tactical response was justified at all, what intelligence supported it, what alternatives to a dynamic entry were considered, and how the operation was supervised — have already been made and documented. That paper trail is where the analysis lives.
What does retention cost?
A non-refundable $9,000 flat fee covering discovery review and the written expert report, with a bullet-point outline approved with counsel before writing begins. The full published schedule is on the For Counsel page.
Retain

Send a tactical-operation record.

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.

SWAT & high-risk operation inquiry

For counsel with a tactical-operation or high-risk warrant matter.

Inquiry sent.

You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.

(239) 571-1840Direct line, Naples, Florida GregoryGilbertson@proton.meDirect email, prefilled for this matter.
Nationwide practiceRetained in 42 states and D.C. · Based in Naples, FL

Conflicts are checked before any substantive discussion. Please do not send privileged material with a first inquiry; after retention the record is exchanged on physical media. Gregory consults for attorneys and their staff only, and does not provide legal advice or attorney referrals to individuals.

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