Policy 370 - Special Operations S.W.A.T.

For a printable version, click here.

I. Purpose:

Law enforcement experience has demonstrated
that there are police service demands, which require
specialized units that are equipped and trained to
manage these demands successfully. SWAT (Special
Weapons and Tactics Team) and similar units such as
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 police incidents involving highly
volatile situations including persons with weapons,
barricaded and/or hostage incidents, suicidal calls,
and high-risk warrant service operations. These types
of units are the most heavily armed within any police
department and demand deliberative decision-making and
oversight. There is no requirement that any police
department have such a unit. When the department does
choose to develop and deploy such a unit, it must accept
the responsibilities and demands required.

II. Policy:

It is the policy of this department to develop
and deploy a specialized tactical unit. The mission of
this unit is to provide the department with the
increased police capability to effectively control and
resolve highly volatile incidents. The specialized
equipment and training of these units provide for
greater safety of the subjects being confronted, police
employees directly involved, and the community. The
police department will use these specialized units only
in situations warranting the need for the enhanced
weaponry and training.

III. Procedure:

The following shall be implemented for the
assignment to and use of the specialized tactical team:

A. Selection process: Personnel selected to become
members of the unit shall have successfully
completed a psychological and medical examination
at time of hire or be required to submit to such
examinations. Personnel selected shall
satisfactorily complete a physical agility course.
The department will consider the candidate's
performance evaluations and complaint history
during this selection process.

B. Fitness: SWAT candidates will initially be required
to pass a physical agility course based on
operational fitness requirements. SWAT members may
be required to pass such course on a periodic basis
(suggested annually). Any member unable to pass
the agility test may be placed on inactive status
until such time they are able to pass the course or
are removed from the team.

C. Negotiators: SWAT teams shall have trained hostage
negotiators available for tactical situations
requiring negotiations (for example barricaded
subjects and hostage situations). Teams should have
their own departmental negotiators or written
policies regarding outside negotiators to be used
(i.e., FBI, or other police department negotiators
in their area).

D. Training Requirement

i. Hourly Training Requirements

a. Initial Certification - All SWAT members must
be qualified before deploying as an
operational SWAT Team member. The initial
training course for all swat members shall
consist of graduation from a 40-hour
certified SWAT course. This course should
include certifications on all weapons system
to be carried by the member, less than lethal
options, flash/noise diversionary devices,
chemical munitions, and tactical issues.
Certified team members should obtain a 40-
hour advanced SWAT Training course as soon as practical

b. Monthly Team Training- All SWAT teams should
train 8 hours per month and maintain a yearly
schedule documenting the firearms and
tactical issues to be covered.

c. Annual 40-hour Team Training Session. Once a
year SWAT teams should conduct a 40-hour
training session for the entire team. If
conducted, this 40- hour training session
will include the required 8 hours of monthly
training for the month in which it is
conducted.

d. Sniper Training- All snipers are required to
successfully pass a 40-hour certified sniper
course and be certified as a sniper before
deploying as a sniper. Snipers are at a
minimum required to qualify quarterly
separate from the mandated team-training
schedule.

ii. Firearms Training Requirements

a. All SWAT team members must qualify before
they are considered operational with their
weapons. Initial qualifications and
familiarization with weapons will be
conducted during the initial 40-hour swat
course for primary and secondary weapons.

b. All SWAT Team members must qualify twice (2)
yearly on an approved qualification course.

c. All SWAT Team members must qualify (2) two
additional times per year on approved
tactical courses.

d. All SWAT firearm courses must be completed
with a minimum passing score of 80%.

e. Any team member who fails to complete any
quarterly or bi-annual qualification may not
deploy with that weapon system during SWAT
activations.

f. SWAT weapons training is divided into two
approaches: skill courses and combat/
tactical courses. Skill courses provide each
officer the opportunity to practice skills
and show proficiency by numerical score.
Combat courses allow for practicing tactics
and skills. All qualifications shall be
conducted in body armor.

g. SWAT qualification courses should be specific
to each weapons system utilized by each team
and follow nationally accepted standards.

iii. Specialized Equipment Training Requirements
a. Flash/Noise Diversionary Devices: All SWAT
members shall receive initial training and
qualification on Flash/noise diversionary
devices during the initial 40-hour swat
training course. Ongoing training will be
conducted
(2) twice annually

b. Less-Than-Lethal: All swat officers will
receive initial training/ certification prior
to deploying with less than lethal weapons.
Ongoing trainings will be conducted twice (2)
annually on less than lethal weapons.

c. Chemical Munitions: SWAT officers shall
receive initial training/ certification prior
to deploying with chemical munitions. Ongoing
training will be conducted twice (2) annually
on chemical munitions.

E. Equipment

i. Minimum Equipment: Each member of a SWAT team
should be provided with the following minimum
equipment:
a. Ballistic helmet
b. Safety glasses and goggles
c. Hearing protection
d. Threat level IIIA ballistic entry vest with

(2) threat level III or IV inserts, and
attachable modules, or load bearing vest
with attachable modules

e. Nylon duty belt and accessories for tactical
equipment
f. Special weapons as authorized (weapons
should be equipped with lights and slings)
g. Duty ammunition
h. Radio and tactical headset
i. BDU uniforms with approved: a) patches b)
Department badge on left breast c) Name tab
Policy 370 Page 5
on right breast
j. Black tactical boots
k. Rain Gear
l. Cold Weather Gear
m. Gas Mask
n. Gloves (protective)
o. Various safety equipment

ii. Specialized Team Equipment: Each SWAT team
should have the following minimum equipment:

a. Less than lethal option(s)/ammunition
b. Counter sniper rifles
c. Flash/Noise diversionary devices
d. Breaching tools/ammunition
e. Ballistic shields
f. Tactical mirrors
g. Transportation vehicle

F. Deployment Limitations: This type of specialized unit
is designed to operate as a team. When deployed, the
team shall be at full complement. Individual members,
however, may be used in other police field incidents
to enhance the police operation by virtue of his/her
specialized equipment. In any case where the use of
an individual member is considered, the SWAT commander
shall be notified for assessment and approval.

G. Risk Assessment Matrix: Before the actual deployment
of the specialized tactical unit, the department shall
evaluate the necessity for this deployment by using a
risk assessment tool. This tool is a guide to evaluate
the need to deploy the most heavily armed unit with
the department to ensure that it meets the risk
potential of the incident.

H. High Risk Warrants: A risk assessment matrix shall be
completed prior to determination that a "high risk"
exists.

I. Operational Planning: Before deployment of the
specialized tactical unit, an operational planning
session shall be conducted and must include:

i. A written operational plan identifying the
mission given to the unit and the tasks
assigned to each member.

ii. A reading of the warrant or description of the
events leading to the decision to deploy the
specialized unit

iii. Acknowledgment that current surveillance of
the targeted location has been done.

iv. Identification of the subjects believed to be
present at the targeted location.

v. A description of the violence potential and any
weaponry that may be present.

vi. A schematic of the targeted location, if
available, and any known tactical hazards.

vii.The stationing of medical support, when
necessary.

J. Operational debriefing: The unit shall conduct and
prepare a written critique of each operational
deployment.

K. Inter-jurisdictional support

i. When the department is requested to assist
another jurisdiction by the deployment of the
specialized tactical unit in a jurisdiction other
than that policed by this department, the
operational aspects and decisions will be made by
this department's unit commander in consultation
with the on-duty supervisor. The
manner of operational deployment will conform to
this department's policy on the use of this
specialized tactical unit.

ii. When this department requires the assistance of a
specialized tactical team from another
jurisdiction for either assumption of the mission
or deployment with this department's tactical
team, the policy of this department shall be
considered. It is still the decision of this
department's on-duty commander to deploy any
tactical unit within this department's
jurisdiction.

iii. Requests for assistance or mutual aid will be
governed by compliance with Arkansas Law.