5-06/110.65 - Special Weapons Team

For expediency, any sworn member of this Department may request a Special Weapons Team (SWT).  However, authorization to deploy the team must be made by the Incident Commander at the scene.

The Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) shall be responsible for providing comprehensive SWT coverage.  Requests for a Special Weapons Team shall be made through the Special Enforcement Bureau Desk.  Specific information relating to the incident shall be provided.

Special Weapons Teams are designed to save lives.  This includes the lives of law enforcement personnel who become faced with unusually hazardous situations, members of the community whose security is severely threatened by these situations and the lives of the suspects.

Special Weapons Teams are available to assist other Units with incidents or operations when the safety of the officers, members of the community or involved parties are likely to be better served by their use.  Situations wherein Special Weapons Teams are typically employed include:

• Barricaded or contained suspect(s) who are believed to be armed;
• Hostage incidents;
• Sniper situations;
• Potentially violent persons who are believed to be armed (including mentally ill, threatened suicides, unknown circumstances, etc.);
• High risk arrest and search warrants; and
• Protection operations involving high risk persons or sites.

Whenever a special weapons team is requested, the requesting Unit's Commander, Area Commander, or Duty Commander, shall be notified.