Houston, TX Police – SWAT Communications
Situation
The Houston PD SWAT team conducts many operations in neighborhoods and apartment complexes.
When dealing with barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and armed suspects, Houston SWAT’s first priority is to quickly notify and evacuate occupants of adjacent homes and apartments before commencing operations.
Their second priority is to protect SWAT officers by communicating to suspects inside buildings and vehicles from safe, standoff distances.
Problem
Houston SWAT officers had to go door to door to warn and evacuate neighboring residents and then waited for the Houston PD technical team to arrive and set up amplifiers and large loudspeakers to communicate with suspects.
“The loudspeakers were the size of shopping carts and took a long time to deploy.”
Sgt. Homer Garza, Houston, TX PD SWAT
Solution
The Houston PD SWAT team procured four portable LRAD 100X systems for tactical operations requiring warnings, evacuations, and long‑range communication with suspects.
During operations, Houston SWAT uses the LRAD alert tone in quick bursts to safely gain the suspect’s attention to the live or recorded warnings, notifications, and commands that follow.
After Houston SWAT utilizes an LRAD 30 – 45 minutes to broadcast instructions and commands, if a suspect still refuses to comply, neighbors and on‑scene media know the SWAT team has provided every opportunity to avoid the escalation of force necessary to resolve the situation.
“LRAD broadcasts give suspects every chance for a peaceful outcome and enlists neighborhoods’ support of our operations.”
Sgt. Homer Garza, Houston, TX PD SWAT
LRAD is the Communication System of Choice for law enforcement, public safety, and defense departments around the world.
Unlike bullhorns and vehicle PA systems that disperse sound in all directions, LRAD’s proprietary audio technology focuses sound in a 30° beam while substantially reducing sound levels behind the device and in surrounding areas.
Long Range Acoustic Devices are saving lives during everyday duties and escalated risk operations.
Genasys Evertel provides secure, real‑time communication and collaboration, addressing the strictest requirements of public safety agencies, hospitals, financial services, and secure business communications.
With security at its core, Evertel ensures the integrity and reliability of every message, offering a robust platform for both internal and external communication and collaboration.
Unify your organization and facilitate smooth collaboration with external organizations through real‑time communication.
Drive compliance, including CJIS, FOIA and HIPAA, with record retention policies so your agencies or personnel can communicate in confidence.
“LRAD is a game changer for communication between the police and the public. If we can effectively communicate, we reduce the chances of anybody getting hurt.” – Sgt. J.E. Armstrong, Greensboro, NC PD
“When you’re on Genasys Evertel, you’re able to push out updates in real time. To me, that is the value proposition and is worth its weight in gold. It’s very cost effective for our team and city.”- Christopher Cook, Police Chief, White Settlement, TX
