The badge comes with stories—some gritty, some hilarious, and some that walk the fine line between both. In a recent conversation with Graham Dunn, a former Marine and retired police sergeant, the realities of service came through loud and clear. From SWAT team callouts and sniper assignments to grappling in the snow and getting tased in training, Graham’s insights offer a unique window into what it means to live a life in service.
His account of SWAT team experiences is not just about the operations, but the mindset and the people behind the uniform. It’s a blend of tactics, truth, and plenty of dry humor.
From Liverpool to the Force
Graham’s story starts across the pond. Born in Liverpool, England, he immigrated to the U.S. at age 10. In 1987, he joined the Marine Reserves and took a job as a deputy sheriff shortly after. A few years later, he made the switch to a police department, where he served until 2019.
With eight years on a busy SWAT team in Colorado, Graham worked through the crack epidemic of the early 90s into the meth surge of the 2000s. His unit ran roughly 400 operations a year, making them one of the busiest in the state.
They weren’t just knocking on doors—they were kicking them in.
Seven Doorknocks in One Night
One of the most memorable nights? A federal warrant operation that led to seven high-risk entries in a single shift. Each one involved breaching a door, handcuffing suspects, and turning the scene over to detectives.
What made the job appealing? You got all the action—and none of the paperwork. “We’d go in, throw everybody in handcuffs, and then the detectives come in and do the reports,” Graham said. “We’d just write one paragraph and be done.”
That kind of pace isn’t for everyone. But for Graham, it was the dream job. “I think I was addicted to it. When I came home, everything felt boring,” he admitted.
The Tools of the Trade
When it came to breaching, they used it all—handheld rams, Halligan tools, even pickup trucks. “If the door was too tough, we’d hook it to a truck and pull it off,” Graham explained. But their go-to? A two-man ram with guaranteed force.
And yes, there was training. Every month included a full week of drills unless they were called into a live op. From room clearing to sniper tactics, their schedules were packed.
Later in his career, Graham transitioned to sniper duties—though he still jumped into the stack when needed. “You were trained in all the roles,” he said. “So even if I was the sniper, I could fill in wherever I was needed”.
Policing, Politics, and the Shift in Culture
While Graham missed the “defund the police” wave by retiring in 2019, he witnessed the early shifts under federal oversight. Consent decrees, he explained, placed departments under strict Justice Department rules after complaints about excessive force or profiling.
This led to highly restrictive use-of-force and pursuit policies. “We went from chasing felonies, to violent felonies, to violent felonies with a deadly weapon,” Graham said. “By today’s standards, the Boston Strangler wouldn’t qualify for a pursuit”.
That shift, he believes, contributed to the erosion of trust in police officers—compounded by high-profile cases and media narratives that often lacked context.
A Cop’s Take on Chauvin and Use of Force
Speaking candidly, Graham weighed in on the Derek Chauvin case. As a former academy instructor, he said officers had always been taught not to kneel on someone’s neck.
“The crowd probably got George Floyd killed,” he added, noting that the growing tension from bystanders might have caused Chauvin to dig in instead of de-escalating. Still, he was firm: “Chauvin destroyed his own life—and did irreparable harm to law enforcement’s reputation nationwide.”
From a tactical standpoint, he pointed out that force should always be proportional. And while body cams now document everything, officers are still human. Mistakes happen, and not all force is excessive. “I’ve seen people get their butt kicked,” he said. “But they were always asking for it”.
Gun Jiu-Jitsu, Booby-Trapped Ventilation, and Booger Tins
Yes, things got weird, too.
At one point, Graham described his training business, Ragnar Tactical, and his development of a course called Gun Jiu-Jitsu. It teaches students how to access and retain their weapon in a grappling situation—especially relevant since most shootouts happen within two yards and last under three seconds.
But not everything was so polished. Asked about pranks, Graham described one particularly twisted detective who kept a “booger tin” on his desk and once stashed a used tissue in a colleague’s car vent. “You’d pull out of the lot and the AC would hit you like a biohazard,” he laughed.
SWAT or not, every unit had that one sick prankster.
Tactical Training and Everyday Readiness
Now running Ragnar Tactical, Graham brings his real-world experience to the public. His classes range from beginner handgun safety to close-quarters combat and rifle drills. He also trains church and school security teams on tactical response and trauma care.
The goal isn’t to turn civilians into commandos. It’s to provide practical tools. “I’m not the smartest guy in the room,” he says. “But I’ve seen enough to know that preparation saves lives.”
That includes tactical combat casualty care—tourniquets, chest seals, and wound packing. As Graham put it, “If someone hadn’t taught me how to do that, I wouldn’t have known. And that person probably would have died”.
Final Thoughts: A Life on the Line—and in Perspective
Graham’s story is a prime example of how SWAT team experiences shape not just a career, but a mindset. It’s about precision under pressure, doing the job right, and laughing through the chaos when you can.
Whether it’s clearing rooms, cracking jokes, or critiquing Hollywood’s cop scenes, he keeps it honest. Because real service isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up, learning from the past, and being ready for whatever’s on the other side of the door.
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