NCJ Number
194900
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 85-89
Date Published
2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses how to promote camaraderie and keep a SWAT team together.
Abstract
SWAT departments and commanders need to identify factors that allow them to retain their highly trained members. Officers invest many hours in training beginning with the basics and continuing with specialized schools. The team is a portion of the officers’ identity. The cost is even more excessive from a departmental standpoint. The cost to replace an officer and maintain staffing levels while training is duplicated. Promotions, age, injuries, assignments, or changes in personal commitments may influence team members to focus in other directions. It may take several years for a team member to mature to a position of responsibility or supervision within the team. Motivation comes in different levels for all personnel. It is difficult to maintain the same level of motivation that an officer initially begins with, especially with part-time teams where call-outs are few. Officers are more inclined to understand lulls in activity if the reality of the unit’s participation in certain activities is reviewed during the selection phase. Each training day should incorporate the team concept. Tactical teams should continually develop and create new challenges to sharpen their skills, overcome weakness, and maintain camaraderie. Tactical officers must have unquestioned trust, loyalty, and commitment to each other. Physical ability concerns should be identified early and team members should be encouraged to maintain fitness. Many teams elect to dispose of the promotion concern through the use of rules and regulations that define team member roles. Social activities outside the department are one method of linking team members. Mechanisms for individual recognition should be minimized. At the same time, it is important to promote pride in the SWAT unit. Each team member must understand the role of each tactical component of the unit. The importance of achieving balance in their lives should be stressed to team members.