Special Operations
Law enforcement experience has demonstrated that there are certain high-risk service demands which require specialized units equipped and trained to successfully handle these demands. Specialized tactical units, also referred to as SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics teams), ERT (Emergency Response Teams), and SRT (Specialized Response Teams) are such units. The mission of these highly trained and specially equipped units is to bring under control incidents involving highly volatile situations including persons with weapons, barricaded and/or hostage incidents, suicidal person calls*, and high-risk warrant service operations.
These types of units are the most heavily armed within any law enforcement agency and demand deliberate decision-making and oversight. The specialized equipment and training of these units provide for greater safety of the subjects being confronted, employees directly involved, and the community. The agency will use these specialized units only in situations warranting the need for enhanced weaponry and training. Specialized units are sometimes comprised of officers from different agencies, sometimes referred to as multijurisdictional teams. This is often done in an effort to pool resources and meet the standards established by the National Tactical Officer’s Association. Regardless of the jurisdiction in which the team is deployed, team members shall follow their own agency policies, particularly in the areas of use of force and search and seizure.
This type of specialized unit is designed to operate as a team. When deployed, the team should be at full complement. Individual members, however, may be used in other law enforcement field incidents to support or enhance operations by virtue of their specialized training and equipment. In any case where the use of an individual member is considered, the tactical unit commander shall be notified for assessment and approval.
Upon deployment, the tactical team commander shall coordinate with the supervisor overseeing the incident. Absent exigent circumstances requiring immediate action by the tactical team or when serving high risk search warrants, the team commander shall conduct a risk assessment using a risk matrix and develop an operations plan. At a minimum, the operations plan should clearly describe the mission, each team member’s assignments, and include a reading of the warrant or briefing of events leading to the decision to deploy SWAT. The plan and team briefing should also include the identity of the suspect(s); information or intelligence gathered through surveillance; description of violence potential and suspected weapons; floorplans or diagrams of target if available; any known animals, associates, or potentially vulnerable persons who may be present at the target location; and verification that medical support has been placed on standby.
Scenario: A smaller, local agency that does not have SWAT capabilities has requested assistance from your agency’s team. A domestic violence call escalated to gunfire from the suspect. All but one family member escaped, and one, the grandmother, is still in residence. It is unknown if she is a hostage, there willingly, or if she is injured. Your agency has a valid mutual aid agreement with the agency requesting assistance.
Question: When your agency’s SWAT team deploys to another jurisdiction, whose policies and procedures control the action of the team?
Answer: The SWAT team members should follow their agency’s policies and procedures.
Scenario Update: The other agency has obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant.
Question: What should the SWAT team commander do before agreeing to execute the warrant, and what information should he obtain?
Answer: The commander should conduct a risk assessment using a risk matrix, develop an operations plan, and brief all members on such plan including:
- Each member’s assignment
- Reading of the warrant or description of events leading to the decision to deploy SWAT
- Information and intelligence gathered through surveillance
- Identity and photos of suspect(s)
- Description of violence potential and suspect weapons
- Floorplan or diagram of target location if available
- Any known animals, associates, or potentially vulnerable persons who may be present at the target location
- Verification that medical support is on standby
* Suicidal person or “non-criminal barricade” calls present unique risks, liabilities, and operational considerations for law enforcement, including specialized tactical units. For more information on this topic, consider listening to the podcast, Police Disengagement on Barricaded Subject Calls, available on the Police1 website.
