2003 Fourth Quarter Winners — Patrol

Winner Fourth Quarter Patrol 2003
Region 18 Officer Mark Ficcadenti & K9 Shadow
St. Paul MN Police Department

On 10-18-2003 St. Paul police officers were sent to 595 North Victoria to assist another agency in picking up a suspect wanted for criminal sexual conduct. As the officers were at the suspect's apartment door, they could hear pounding coming from inside and what sounded like a firearm being charged (cocked & loaded). The officers believed the suspect was barricading himself in the apartment.

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was called to defuse the situation. Officer Mark Ficcadenti and K9 Shadow a part of the CIRT and trained in CIRT deployment responded.

Further information obtained revealed that the suspect had a prior history of sex crimes and had previously barricaded himself when confronted with arrest.

The suspect refused any contact with negotiators. The gas and electric were subsequent turned off to help establish negotiations but failed to produce any communications. The suspect was making irrational demands and a negotiated surrender was unlikely. It now became a tactical resolution and a plan was initiated.

CIRT members fired 37 mm gas rounds, deployed gas canisters as well as Clear Out into two windows of the apartment. During the following 45 minutes the suspect refused to end his standoff. A forced entry plan was initiated. Flash bang munitions were thrown into multiple rooms with one deployed on the door being breached.

Officer Mark Ficcdenti & K9 Shadow followed by other team members made entry. K9 Shadow was deployed to locate and apprehend the suspect while the team members provided back up. On hearing K9 Shadow engage the suspect the team moved in and observed what appeared to be a black garbage bag wrapped around his arm, hand and leg.

K9 Shadow was engaged with the much larger suspect who refused to comply with officer commands and continued to resist arrest. The officers approached and took physical control of the suspect. On checking the apartment it was discovered that a 40 cal pistol was available and in reach.

Post incident review by all those involved believed there was a high possibility that the suspect was going to shoot the first officer he came in contact with. Officer Ficcadenti deployment of K9 Shadow allowed the team members to remain in a position of cover while Shadow engaged the suspect who had the advantage.

K9 Shadow overcame many distractions and had the ability to work in these demanding conditions with numerous assisting officers. K9 Shadow made the first critical contact controlling the suspect until responding officer took control. The ability of Officer Ficcadenti & K9 Shadow to neutralize a serious and dangerous encounter and safely resolved a grave deadly conflict is to be commended.