Episode 3 – Lee McMillion: Inside LAPD D-Platoon (SWAT)
Guest – Lt. Lee McMillion. Lee is currently one of the two Lieutenants leading the Los Angeles Police Departments Metropolitan Division D-Platoon. Which is also known as LAPD SWAT. In total, Lee has spent 33 years as a Los Angeles Policeman of which 23 years have been spent at Metro, 21 with D-Platoon. Lee is one of only three men to have ever served at all possible ranks at D Platoon (Officer, Plus 1, Sgt, and Lt.). Lee has been an element member, an element leader, a squad leader and is currently a Platoon Leader. In his career Lee has participated in well over a thousand tactical operations with a wide variety of mission sets.
Time Coding
01:10 – Lee’s Career History
03:20 – History of LAPD D-Platoon (SWAT)
06:30 – Black Panther and SLA Incidents
08:00 – Origins of the name “SWAT”
10:30 – 1984 LA Olympics and effect on D-Platoon
14:15 – Current Configuration & Responsibilities of D-Platoon
16:30 – Capabilities of the team & the cadre system
19:59 – TEMS & Tactical Medics
22:45 – Demographics of the Average D Platoon Operators
26:00 – Criteria and Process for Activating SWAT
29:30 – Crisis Negotiation System – Every Operator is a Negotiator
32:00 – Misconceptions about SWAT – Statistics for SWAT
37:00 – “Militarization” of Law Enforcement
40:45 – Choosing the Right People – Personnel Selection
46:00 – Maintaining High Standards with Strong Personalities
49:00 – Building and Maintaining The Right Culture
52:25 – Effects of Social Media on Different Personality Types
55:25 – The Tension Between Social Media and Professionalism
58:00 – Rapid Fire Questions
1:02:00 – Most Profound Career Memory
Links and Books Referenced
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle – ASIN B00AN2KTKQ
Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life by James Kerr – ISBN 9780804176989
Contact Info
LAPD SWAT Instagram – @lapd.swat
