Colin Dowling

Articles by: Colin Dowling

Reforming An Garda Síochána’s current critical incident command structure: Identifying international best practice

19th October 2021

ANALYSIS: A fatal shooting by An Garda Síochána officers in 2000 prompted close scrutiny of the force’s critical incident command structure, but there has been little formal review since reports into the incident were published in 2006/7; as part of his dissertation for an MSc in Policing, Policy and Leadership, serving specialist firearms officer Colin Dowling has compared current critical incident structures available to the force, identifying the best practice option for the Garda.

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Colin Dowling

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Colin Dowling is a serving member of An Garda Síochána, and has accrued 19 years of dedicated service. He graduated from the Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, having been awarded a National Diploma in Police Studies, with Distinction, by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. Colin has served in Limerick and Cork cities during his service in An Garda Síochána. Since 2008, he has been attached to the Garda Armed Support Unit, based in Cork City, as a uniformed specialist firearms officer. This role entails providing a specialised armed response to spontaneous incidents, planned operations, and critical firearm incidents throughout the southern Garda region. Colin is a qualified Initial Spontaneous Critical Firearms Incident Commander. Prior to his deployment as a specialist firearms officer, Colin had been posted to regular operational policing units, crime taskforce units and crime investigative duties. In 2018, Colin graduated from University College Cork, having been awarded a Masters of Laws (LL.M.) Degree, with Honours. Continuing his studies, in 2019, Colin graduated from University College Cork, having been awarded a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Degree, with Honours.