The SWAT Team’s mission is to provide a well-disciplined, well-trained, efficient unit, which can be used by the Chief of Police in situations where the public and officers are in extreme danger.

SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) is made up of police officers, who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their work on the SWAT Team is in addition to their regular duties and assignments. The team’s commander, Captain T.D. Dodson, was appointed by the Chief of Police and is supervised by the Investigations Bureau Police Major. Each team member must meet strict requirements and is selected after a rigorous process. The team trains monthly in preparation for handling a variety of high-risk critical incidents.

The SWAT Team is used for hostage situations and negotiations, barricaded suspects, service of high-risk warrants, drug raids and search warrants, searches for armed subjects, VIP protection, stakeouts and undercover surveillance, civil disorder and other special events. SWAT handles any incident, which has the potential for armed confrontations, through tactics that lessen the chances of injury or death.