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| 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.
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 more information about 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 |
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