On July 22, 2008, the Okaloosa County (FL) Sheriff's Office Special Response Team responded to an armed barricaded suspect who was wanted for felony criminal charges and was suffering from mental health issues. The suspect had escaped from a mental health facility prior to barricading and arming himself in his home in Fort Walton Beach, FL. This presentation will debrief the incident that involved several hours of attempted negotiation and a gunfight that resulted in the death of the suspect and an SRT member. Discussion will cover the operation, lessons learned, and how to move forward as a team following the death of a teammate.

David Allen began his law enforcement career in 2005 with the Okaloosa County (FL) Sheriff's Office. He serves as the commander for a multi-agency SWAT Team. David is an instructor in high-liability courses at the Northwest Florida State College Law Enforcement Academy and regularly teaches Rural Operations Tactics Courses. He was on the Florida SWAT Association Board of Directors for several years. David has a Master's in Public Service Administration from Columbia Southern University.