SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS

(S.W.A.T.)
By <OMMITTED> and David Lemcoe
OVERVIEW
• Division of regular police departments specializing in:
• High-risk operations
• Hostage rescues
• Counter-terrorism operations
• Serving high-risk warrants
• Engaging high-risk criminals
• First S.W.A.T team created on December 9, 1969 in Los Angeles by Daryl
Gates
• Found at all levels of law-enforcement and military
• Created to give more firepower and better training to officers

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BRIEF HISTORY
• Originated in Los Angeles Police Department
• First deployment was to control Black Panthers
• Originally called “Special Weapons Assault Team”, but is rarely used today
• First S.W.A.T. unit had fifteen teams of four, given special officer status

"The purpose of SWAT is to provide protection, support, security, firepower, and rescue to
police operations in high personal risk situations where specialized tactics are necessary to
minimize casualties.“ – SWAT Report 3
TRAINING
• Required to act calm and intelligent in high-stress situations
• Trained to respond to events such as:
• Drug Busts
• Domestic Terrorism
• Crowd Control
• Barricaded Suspects
• Constantly going through training
• Extensive weapons and physical training
• Other members like negotiators are also needed

"Training is like insurance. You hope you never have to use it, but you had better
have it." 4
-Al Precadio – SWAT trainer
MEMBERS OF THE SWAT TEAM
• For a SWAT team to function efficiently, each member of the group is assigned a
specific role. For example:
• Scouts
• Utility Member
• Breaching Member
• Gas Members
• Marksman Member
• SWAT commander, also known as Chief of S.W.A.T.
• APC driver
• Command Center Officer

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QUALITIES/ REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME
A PART OF SWAT
• To become a member of the SWAT team, you will have to have some personal qualities
such as Intelligence, Logic, Stability, Physical Fitness, Motivation, survivability and team
spirit. Before you graduate, you will also need to pass a written test, fitness test:
• Maximum Bench Press (one rep)
- Maximum Leg Press (one rep)
- Maximum Pushups (1 min time limit...all the way down using proper form)
- Maximum Sit-ups (1 min time limit)
- 1.5 Mile Timed Run
- 300 Yard Sprint
- 150 lb. "Dummy Drag"
• Firearms test, Psychological evaluation, Review board and many other exams. Each
part of the tests vary from department to department. Some will have more stringent
rules, some more lenient.

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S.W.A.T. TEAM GEAR
• S.W.A.T teams use lots of different gear. Each officer is allowed to use whichever is
most comfortable for his/her use. Standard body armor is generally issued. Some
popular handgun choices are:
• Sig Sauer P225, P229
• Beretta M9, 92FS
• Glock 19, 21, 9mm and .45 models
• Heckler & Koch MP5, G36, USP, UMP
• Colt M1911 .45
• Snipers will use high powered, long-range rifles
• Common to use shotguns such as Remington 870
• S.W.A.T. teams also make frequent use of flash bangs/stun grenades
• Also use riot shields
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TEAM VEHICLES
• Mobile Command Center
• Can be deployed to each site.
• Center of all communications.
• S.W.A.T Chief may work here.
• Negotiators make calls from here
• APC (Armored Personnel Carrier)
• Heavily armored.
• Carriers S.W.A.T. officers to site.
• Usually has long arm that can tear down doors and bars.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.helium.com/items/101114-the-united-states-swat-program-a-history-and-overview
• http://www.libertyreferences.com/lapd-swat.shtml
• http://www.hollywoodpolice.org/special_units/swatteam.htm
• http://sheriff.org/about_bso/dle/units/swat.cfm
• http://www.specialoperations.com/Domestic/SWAT/swattraining.html
• http://people.howstuffworks.com/swat-team.htm
• http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_is_the_Salary_of_a_SWAT_Team_Member.html
• http://www.csmonitor.com/2000/0531/p2s2.html
• http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/mpdpolicy/7-900/7-900.asp#P94_7168

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