Operations Support Division - SWAT
• SWAT provided nine Dignitary Protection assignments for several key current and former government officials , including former President Barack Obama .
• SWAT conducted 85 operations assisting narcotics , vice , and barricaded persons in 2016 .
• Personnel provided training in the department ’ s Rescue Task Force ( RTF ) program .
The SWAT Unit consists of 12 full-time operators , two sergeants , and a lieutenant . The unit also relies on two part-time teams of 10 officers each who provide support to SWAT as an ancillary duty . These part-time teams have other primary duties such as patrol , traffic and criminal investigation . There are also officers assigned as negotiators and snipers that provide support to the SWAT Unit .
The unit responded to nine barricaded person calls last year and assisted with the execution of 21 search warrants . The unit also assisted with 32 narcotics and vice arrest warrants .
The most notable dignitary protection assignments included the request by Dallas Police Department to provide the escort and venue protective detail for President Barack Obama in July . Through careful coordination with the United States Secret Service and other federal agencies , this successful operation utilized every available SWAT operator .
Rescue Task Force training was rolled out to 323 police officers and 78 supervisors in conjunction with the Arlington Fire Department and Arlington Medical Response . This training focused on properly mitigating active shooter threats with an added medical response component .
SWAT personnel are routinely tasked with providing expert instruction in a variety of training topics at the Training Center . Personnel provided 1,853 hours of instruction to recruit officers and in-service training for employees . Resource hours were also provided in the form of assisting patrol by working over 600 hours to reduce violent crime , answer calls for service , and conduct traffic enforcement . Additionally , over 208 hours of community outreach was provided in the form of assisting with static equipment displays and forums to better educate the public on SWAT ’ s role and philosophy .
Arlington , Texas Police Department
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