Real incidents
Discuss real-world bodycam incidents in detail and apply the decision-making model to the choices officers faced.
Law enforcement training / One-day course
PATROL
HOSTAGE RESCUE:
Forging the Critical Incident Mindset
An eight-hour law enforcement training course that strengthens patrol officers’ decision making during hostage incidents, barricades, and other critical incidents.
8 HOURSClassroom and scenarios
2,000+Officers trained
PATROL FIRSTBuilt for initial response
01 / The course
A framework for the decisions that matter most.
In eight hours, officers examine several career's worth of critical incidents and hostage events. The course takes a deep dive into the longstanding law enforcement Priorities of Life (Safety Priorities) principle and shows how it applies across critical incidents.
Officers must recognize when unnecessary risk endangers their team and when decisive action in extreme danger may be needed to save a hostage or bystander. This course gives attendees a simple framework for choosing and explaining an appropriate response as circumstances change.
Read attendee feedback02 / Decision framework
Clarity under pressure
PRIORITIES
OF LIFE (SAFETY PRIORITIES)
A clear order to guide decisions as a situation develops.
- 01Hostages
- 02Citizens & bystanders
- 03Police
- 04Suspect/Subject
03 / What officers will work through
FROM PRINCIPLE
TO DECISION.
Rescue Teams
Consider readiness during critical incidents and barricades: personnel, breaching tools, entry options, and a hasty plan before action is needed.
Scenarios
Apply the framework in tabletop and role player scenarios. The hosting agency provides Simunition or airsoft equipment for the practical scenarios.
Articulation
Use a clear roadmap to explain the facts, priorities, and reasoning behind use of force decisions.
This is a decision-making course, not a tactics class. It includes strategies and examples drawn from real-world emergency hostage rescues.
04 / Built from experience
Born from a real training gap.
The course was developed in 2021 by Brian Walley while serving on the Fairfax County Police Department SWAT team, after a critical incident exposed a need for broader patrol training.
It was delivered agency-wide to more than 1,300 Fairfax County officers, including the Chief of Police and Command Staff, over 18 months and became part of the department’s basic academy curriculum.
Other hosts have included Fairfax City Police Department, Arlington County Police Department, United States Pentagon Police, Herndon Police Department, Vienna Police Department, Purcellville Police Department, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Prince William County Police Department, Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office, and several other agencies in southern Virginia.
The Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy and Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy currently host ongoing and recurring classes.
05 / Your instructor
BRIAN
WALLEY
Founder, Tac 6 Solutions, LLC
Brian Walley retired from the Fairfax County Police Department in December 2023 after more than 25 years of service. His career included patrol and criminal investigations, nine years in the Street Crimes Unit, and ten years on the full-time SWAT team, participating in over 1,000 tactical vehicle intercepts, hundreds of high-risk operations, and multiple real-world hostage rescues.
A Virginia DCJS General Instructor since 2003, Firearms Instructor since 2004, and certified Force Science Analyst since 2018, Brian has taught active shooter response, firearms, patrol tactics, and hostage and barricade response. He developed training adopted into FCPD’s basic academy curriculum and instructed Tactical Vehicle Intercepts at TAC-OPS East.
Brian also served on FCPD’s Use of Force Committee and the Virginia DCJS Active Shooter Committee, contributing to training, policy, and statewide response standards.
25+Years in law enforcement
10Years on full-time SWAT
Attendee feedback
WHAT OFFICERS SAID.
“This class was incredibly beneficial. It provided the actual meaning to safety priorities and how they should be used. Every supervisor and patrol officer should have to attend this course.”
“…a very experienced and respectful instructor who made it about the training and not himself. It makes it easy to listen to him and take him seriously.”
“The practical scenarios were outstanding. Great training.”
Bring the course to your team
PREPARE FOR
THE FIRST MOMENTS.
Ask about hosting Patrol Hostage Rescue for your agency. Share your location, anticipated class size, and preferred dates to start the conversation.
Call 571-293-6454