This classroom-based course prepares officers to respond decisively and effectively to high-risk, rapidly evolving incidents across open-air environments, vehicles, residential structures, and commercial settings. Instruction covers barricaded subjects, barricaded subjects armed, barricaded subjects with additional occupants, hostage situations, and incidents involving innocent bystanders.

Sgt. Marco Lopez is currently serving in the Tactical Operations Division as part of the Houston SWAT Team. From 2013 to 2018, he was the Team Leader of the Assaulter Squad. He has planned and responded to over 1,500 scenes as an officer and a Sergeant during his tenure. He has also supervised a team of SWAT officers, ensuring effective responses to high-risk incidents and tactical operations. Additionally, he has developed and coordinated new training for the SWAT team, undertaken dignitary protection assignments, and coordinated tactical operations and investigations alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in February 2019, Sgt. Lopez remained with the SWAT team but was also assigned to the Narcotics Division, where he created a new tactical team responsible for executing all search warrants for the division. He was responsible for selecting officers, training, and overseeing operations until the team became self-sufficient, after which he returned to the SWAT team.