Topic: Decision Making

The Attorney General exercised oversight in the decision to proceed with the tear gas plan on April 19th after extensive deliberation. Alternatives were considered, and negotiators were consulted once it was determined that further dialogue would not be fruitful. The plan was executed over several hours, beginning at 6:00 AM, with the fire erupting nearly six hours after the initial gas insertion.

The Waco siege highlighted the need to structurally integrate behavioral scientists and negotiators into the tactical decision-making process. Future training will emphasize using behavioral science to understand marginal religious sects and non-traditional groups. Officials noted that even with these improvements, law enforcement cannot always guarantee a non-fatal resolution when dealing with barricaded groups.