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[[Image:SWAT.jpg|thumb|SWAT officers from the United States of America]]

[[Image:SWAT.jpg|thumb|SWAT officers from the United States of America]]

A '''SWAT team''' is a group of highly trained [[police officer]]s who deal with very dangerous [[criminal]]s. SWAT is an [[acronym]] that means '''S'''pecial '''W'''eapons '''A'''nd '''T'''actics. SWAT officers carry weapons of higher [[caliber]] than most police officers do, such as [[machine gun]]s, [[shotgun]]s, and [[sniper rifle]]s. Usually, police departments use SWAT teams to catch people who sell illegal [[Illegal drugs|drugs]] or try to hold people [[hostage]]. They also respond to serious crimes like [[bank]] [[robbery|robberies]] when normal police officers cannot control the criminals.

A '''SWAT team''' is a group of highly trained [[police officer]]s who deal with very dangerous [[criminal]]s. SWAT is an [[acronym]] that means '''S'''pecial '''W'''eapons '''A'''nd '''T'''actics. SWAT officers carry weapons of higher [[caliber]] than most police officers do, such as [[machine gun]]s, [[shotgun]]s, and [[sniper rifle]]s. Usually, police departments use SWAT teams to catch people who sell illegal [[Illegal drugs|drugs]] or try to hold people [[hostage]]. They also respond to serious crimes like [[bank]] [[robbery|robberies]] when normal police officers cannot control the criminals.<ref>SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Phillip L. Davidson, Metropolitan Police Department Nashville-Davidson County, Tennesee. Hardcover – 1 Jun 1979, Publisher: Charles C. Thomas, Springfield Illinois, (ISBN: 9780398038908)</ref>

The SWAT teams are usually called to deal with [[hostage]] situations. They plan the entry into the building where the hostages are being held. They look closely at all building entrances to choose the best option. They make use of equipment such as [[rappelling rope]]s, [[nightvision goggles]], [[thermalvision goggles]], a tactical [[shield]], [[flashbang grenade|flashbang]] and [[smoke grenade]]s, snake cameras small cameras that fit under doors and into very small holes, among others.

The SWAT teams are usually called to deal with [[hostage]] situations. They plan the entry into the building where the hostages are being held. They look closely at all building entrances to choose the best option. They make use of equipment such as [[rappelling rope]]s, [[night vision]] goggles, a tactical [[shield]], [[flashbang grenade|flashbang]] and [[smoke grenade]]s, snake cameras and small cameras that fit under doors and into very small holes, among others.

[[Image:Members of the 60th Security Police Squadron's Base Swat Team.jpg|thumb|SWAT team from the U.S. Air Force]]

[[Image:Members of the 60th Security Police Squadron's Base Swat Team.jpg|thumb|SWAT team from the U.S. Air Force]]

SWAT officers act as paramilitary units that tackle situations beyond the capability of conventional police forces. SWAT teams are called in when an incident presents significant risk to law enforcement officers or the public, as in:

SWAT officers act as paramilitary units that tackle situations beyond the capability of conventional police forces. SWAT teams are called in when an incident presents significant risk to law enforcement officers or the public, as in:

*Counterterrorism operations

*Counterterrorism operations

*Apprehension of armed and barricaded suspects

*Catching and arresting of armed and barricaded suspects

*Suicide intervention

*Suicide intervention

*Warrant service under fire

*Warrant service under fire

*Fugitive tracking in rural environments

*Fugitive tracking in rural environments

While all SWAT officers are expert marksmen with in-depth training in close combat, most play a specialized role within the team. Some serve as negotiators or medics while others are experts in handling assault vehicles or weapons. Each team includes several tactical officers who coordinate and carry out assaults on barricaded positions and apprehend armed suspects.

While all SWAT officers are expert marksmen with in-depth training in close combat, most play a specialized role within the team. Some serve as negotiators or medics while others are experts in handling assault vehicles or weapons. Each team includes several tactical officers who coordinate and carry out assaults on barricaded positions and catch and arrest armed suspects.

When not responding to crises, SWAT officers perform more routine duties. Many spend a majority of their time in conventional policing activities such as patrol and traffic enforcement. In some areas, they use their specialized tactical knowledge to conduct crime suppression exercises that ferret out dangerous offenders.  

When not responding to crises, SWAT officers perform more routine duties. Many spend a majority of their time in conventional policing activities such as patrol and traffic enforcement. In some areas, they use their specialized tactical knowledge to conduct crime suppression exercises that ferret out dangerous offenders.

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[[Category:Military]]

 

File:SWAT team approaches building at Fort Hood 2009-11-05.JPG|[[United States Department of Defense|DoD]] SWAT officers responding to the [[2009 Fort Hood shooting]] in Texas

 

File:Active shooter exercise at Navy EOD school 131203-F-oc707-008.jpg|[[Crestview, Florida|Crestview Police Department]] SWAT officers wearing different combat uniforms during an [[Active shooter training|active shooter exercise]] at [[Eglin Air Force Base]] in 2013

 

File:May 31 2020 Charleston County curfew.png|SWAT officers on a [[Lenco BearCat]], an [[infantry mobility vehicle]] notable for common police use, in [[Charleston County, South Carolina]]

[[Category:Police]]

[[Category:Police]]