Search Result: SWAT Training

The tactical teams portrayed in the movies and on television typically use an assortment of automatic weapons and high-powered rifles to shoot down terrorists and hostage takers. But those of us in the business know that the vast majority of our missions do not involve the use of deadly force.

R Block of the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. Inmates are holding a hostage. His hands are bound with a strip of cloth that's tied around the crossbars of one of the cells. A negotiator has been called in to hear the inmates' demands and to try to secure release of the hostage. The ringleader of the riot, a young loudmouth called K-Dog, yells at the negotiator who is on the stairs above the showers, "You better take care of your boy!"

With an unlimited supply of public safety emergencies facing communities today, it’s never too late for police to plan ahead. It’s a simple but powerful precaution and one that more law enforcement agencies are taking to heart in the post-9/11 world.

Whatever the nature of a tactical callout, one thing is sure—you’ll be on your feet and they need to perform. After all, your feet are as much a “tool” as the rest of your equipment. If you have taken as much care with the selection of your boots as you have with the rest of your gear, you should be able to get through any callout in good condition.

The position of police sniper is one of the most unique and difficult in all of law enforcement. It carries with it high expectations and great responsibility. Yet, many agencies put little thought into setting a proper foundation for an effective sniper program.

SWAT teams have been part of the capabilities of police agencies since 1967 when the Los Angeles Police Department organized its special weapons and tactics unit to respond to critical incidents.

Somewhere between the images, the perceptions, and accusations lies a truth: If ever an entity embodied the philosophy of "hope for the best, but plan for the worst," it is the SWAT unit.