 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| SWAT Special Weapons and Tactics |
Everybody has heard about SWAT. Nearly every police department in
the United States has some variation of a SWAT team. While large
police departments have the staff to maintain full time SWAT teams,
even small departments usually have officers who are trained and
equipped to come together on short notice to perform high risk entries
or other duties now associated with SWAT teams. All SWAT teams
don't go by the same name. For instance, when Baltimore formed its
first unit, it was designated QRT for Quick Response Team.
Police Department SWAT teams didn't appear overnight, and the
formation of these units initially faced a lot of political hurdles simply
because of their appearance and purpose. The threat of terrorism has
revived the criticism referring to the militarization of police
departments using SWAT teams as the visual verification of that
criticism. These critics simply don't understand the organization of
American police departments, nor the purposes for those police officers
trained in special weapons and tactics.
When I became a police officer in Baltimore in 1971, the real SWAT was
still in Los Angeles, and the other SWAT was a television show
(1975-1976). While the television show didn't last, because it was too
violent, the real SWAT fortunately did go on the road, and it became a
hit across the country.
In the past, even before bullet proof vests and high ammunition capacity
handguns, patrol officers had the total responsibility for dealing with
situations that are now routinely handled by SWAT teams. We did have
the 12 gauge shotgun, and the sound of a round being racked into a
Remington 12 gauge pump did have an incredible psychological effect on
a bad guy...but, I digress.
The biggest difference between police and the military is their view
regarding casualties. The military conducts their operations while
trying to achieve the lowest level of casualties. A police department
conducts it business with a zero tolerance for casualties. While that
zero tolerance cannot always be achieved, the best way to try is through
training, discipline, and teamwork. The SWAT team is a good thing,
and you'll come to respect and appreciate its existence.
the United States has some variation of a SWAT team. While large
police departments have the staff to maintain full time SWAT teams,
even small departments usually have officers who are trained and
equipped to come together on short notice to perform high risk entries
or other duties now associated with SWAT teams. All SWAT teams
don't go by the same name. For instance, when Baltimore formed its
first unit, it was designated QRT for Quick Response Team.
Police Department SWAT teams didn't appear overnight, and the
formation of these units initially faced a lot of political hurdles simply
because of their appearance and purpose. The threat of terrorism has
revived the criticism referring to the militarization of police
departments using SWAT teams as the visual verification of that
criticism. These critics simply don't understand the organization of
American police departments, nor the purposes for those police officers
trained in special weapons and tactics.
When I became a police officer in Baltimore in 1971, the real SWAT was
still in Los Angeles, and the other SWAT was a television show
(1975-1976). While the television show didn't last, because it was too
violent, the real SWAT fortunately did go on the road, and it became a
hit across the country.
In the past, even before bullet proof vests and high ammunition capacity
handguns, patrol officers had the total responsibility for dealing with
situations that are now routinely handled by SWAT teams. We did have
the 12 gauge shotgun, and the sound of a round being racked into a
Remington 12 gauge pump did have an incredible psychological effect on
a bad guy...but, I digress.
The biggest difference between police and the military is their view
regarding casualties. The military conducts their operations while
trying to achieve the lowest level of casualties. A police department
conducts it business with a zero tolerance for casualties. While that
zero tolerance cannot always be achieved, the best way to try is through
training, discipline, and teamwork. The SWAT team is a good thing,
and you'll come to respect and appreciate its existence.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
I've linked you, below, to a lot of
information on SWAT...
information on SWAT...
| "Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated". - Sun Tzu, the Art of War |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
| Online Video Learning Systems: Police Exam - U.S. Border Patrol Exam |