NCJ Number
141812
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1993) Pages: 34-38
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This overview of current trends in the use of police special weapons and tactical (SWAT) units focuses on the use of multiagency response teams for small police departments, equipment for the SWAT team, tactics, weapon selection, and changes in training.
Abstract
The multiagency response team has become a sweeping trend among small departments throughout the country. The key to the success of such a team is the development of policies and procedures agreed upon by all member agencies. Regarding tactics, the current trend is to practice both stealth and dynamic entries. The goal of stealth is to reduce casualties and should be used in preference to the explosive, dynamic entry unless the stealth entry is compromised. Only one member of the team should be responsible for commands and decisionmaking on the scene. Regarding weaponry, the heavy favorite of SWAT teams is a police counter sniper rifle with the bull barrel, bolt action rifle chambered for 7.62 NATO. Given the need for weapon mobility in tight quarters, the long gun is replaced with handguns except for point and rear guard. Some changes in SWAT training include an emphasis on shooting while moving at a slow pace so as to improve the speed and accuracy of hits. Whereas more time was spent on shooting training than tactics in the past, the trend now is toward more training in tactics than weapons use.