Wikipedia

Police tactical unit

For other uses, see Police tactical unit (disambiguation).

A police tactical unit (PTU)[a] is a specialized police unit trained and equipped to handle situations that are beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement units because of the level of violence (or risk of violence) involved.[2][3][4] The tasks of a police tactical unit may include executing dangerous search warrants and arrest warrants for dangerous persons; arresting or neutralizing dangerous or mentally ill armed persons; and intervening in high-risk situations such as shootouts, standoffs, hostage-takings, and terrorist incidents.[5][6]

Osaka Prefectural Police Riot Police Unit officers arresting a suspect during training

Definition

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GSG 9 (operator and helicopter pictured here in 1978) was established in September 1972 following the Munich massacre to combat terrorism, and was one of the first police tactical units.[7]

Police tactical units are dedicated units composed of personnel selected and trained in tactical skillsets to carry out the responsibilities of the unit, and in use-of-force policies, including lethal force for counterterrorism.[8] A PTU is equipped with specialized police and military-type equipment.[9] PTU personnel may also be trained in crisis negotiation.[10]

A police tactical unit can be part of either a police force under the authority of civilian officials,[11] or a gendarmerie-style force under the authority of civilian officials (interior ministry) or a defence ministry that may have formal military status.[12][11] Other government agencies, depending on the country, may establish specialized units with comparable taskings, training, and equipment, such as border guard, coast guard, customs, or corrections.[13]

In the United States, police tactical units are known by the generic term SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team;[14][15] the term originated from the Philadelphia Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1960s.[16][14][17] In Australia, the federal government uses the term police tactical group.[3] The European Union uses the term special intervention unit for national counterterrorist PTUs.[18]

Characteristics

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An FBI SWAT team advancing during an aircraft hijacking training exercise at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi

Police tactical units have similarities to military special forces units such as organization, selection, training, equipment, and operational methodologies.[19][20] Police tactical units, similar to military units, are not gender diverse, with female members being rare.[21][22]

For "certain counter terrorism operations, such as hostage rescue, there is a significant convergence of roles, tactics and force when employed in either an armed conflict or policing role".[23] Aside from counterterrorism, the roles of police and military units differ in that the role of military units can result in the use of the maximum permissible force against enemy combatants while the role of police units is to use only minimal force sufficient to subdue suspected criminals, including negotiation.[24][25][26]

Canine units may also be incorporated within teams, or may be used on an ad hoc basis.[27] In the United Kingdom, this capability is provided by the Central Support Group.[28][failed verification]

Equipment

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Many police tactical units also have access to specialized equipment such as ballistic shields, entry tools, battering rams, armored vehicles, thermal and night-vision devices, fiberscope cameras, and motion detectors.[29][failed verification] In the United Kingdom, specialized police tactical units have access to specialized cutting equipment for protestor removal, and radiological protection gear. [28][failed verification]


Clothing

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Crestview Police Department SWAT officers wearing different combat uniforms during an active shooter exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in 2013

Police tactical unit personnel wear similar uniforms to those worn by military personnel. Traditional uniforms are usually solid tones of dark blue, black, grey, tan, or olive green, though uniforms with military camouflage have become popular with some units since the 2000s.[30][failed verification]

Police tactical unit personnel use helmets similar to those issued by military, such as the PASGT helmet or Future Assault Shell Technology helmet, though they may also use riot helmets or soft headgear such as caps. Balaclavas and goggles are often used to protect the face and protect the identities of team members.[31][32][additional citation(s) needed] Ballistic vests, sometimes including rigid plate inserts, are standard-issue.[32] These vests are labelled with "POLICE", "SHERIFF", "SWAT", or similar, to allow for easy identification.[33][globalize]

Weapons

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Units are equipped with special weapons that are not normally used by regular police units, typically military firearms such as assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, smoke grenades and stun grenades.[34][35][36][37][38]

Vehicles

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SWAT officers on a Lenco BearCat, an armored vehicle notable for common police use, in Charleston County, South Carolina

Police tactical units often employ "armored rescue vehicles" (ARV),[39] for insertion, maneuvering, and during operations such as the rescue of personnel and civilians who may be in danger of receiving fire from suspects if extracted through other methods.[40][41] Common armored vehicles include the Lenco BearCat and BEAR, and the Cadillac Gage Commando.[42][43][44][globalize] Some departments use decommissioned, disarmed military vehicles such as those acquired from the Law Enforcement Support Office in the U.S.[globalize] Alternatively, SWAT teams may use unmarked police cars to respond faster, provide better mobility when splitting up, or avoid detection.[45][failed verification]

Police aircraft, commonly helicopters, are used to provide aerial reconnaissance or insertion via rappelling or fast-roping.[citation needed] Rigid inflatable boats are also used worldwide by police tactical teams.[28][failed verification] [46][failed verification]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Some academic literature from North America uses the term "police paramilitary unit" (PPU) to describe police tactical units.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Alvaro 2000, p. 3.
  2. ^ Alvaro, Sam (2000). Tactical law enforcement in Canada; an exploratory survey of Canadian police agencies (Thesis). Carleton University. p. 1,37,51-52. ISBN 9780612484191. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (2017). Active Armed Offender Guidelines for Crowded Places (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 3. ISBN 9781925593976. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  4. ^ Rantatalo, Oscar (2013). Sensemaking and organising in the policing of high risk situations: focusing the Swedish Police National Counter-Terrorist Unit (PDF) (Thesis). Umeå: Department of Education, Umeå University. p. 15,32. ISBN 9789174596991. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  5. ^ Alvaro 2000, p. 99-103.
  6. ^ NTOA 2018, p. 10.
  7. ^ Alvaro 2000, p. 39-40.
  8. ^ NTOA (April 2018). "Tactical Response and Operations Standard for Law Enforcement Agencies" (PDF). p. 12,34,38. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ NTOA 2018, p. 45.
  10. ^ NTOA 2018, p. 35.
  11. ^ a b Alvaro 2000, p. 40.
  12. ^ Lutterbeck, Derek (2013). The Paradox of Gendarmeries : Between Expansion, Demilitarization and Dissolution (PDF). SSR PAPER 8. Geneva: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). p. 7. ISBN 9789292222864. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  13. ^ Alvaro 2000, p. 44.
  14. ^ a b Rantatalo 2013, p. 15.
  15. ^ Alvaro 2000, p. 72.
  16. ^ Mitchel P. Roth & James Stuart Olson, Historical Dictionary of Law Enforcement, Westport, Ct: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001, p. 333 and; John S. Dempsey & Linda S. Forst, An Introduction to Policing, Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2011, p. 276.
  17. ^ Alvaro 2000, p. 27-28.
  18. ^ On the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations (Council Decision 2008/617/JHA). 23 June 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  19. ^ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (18 December 2020). NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions (PDF) (in English and French). Vol. AAP-06 (2020 ed.). Brussels: NATO Standardization Agency. p. 119. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2021.
  20. ^ Alexander, John B (July 2010). "4: Comparison between SOF and Law Enforcement Agencies". Convergence: Special Operations Forces and Civilian Law Enforcement (Report). JSOU report 10-6. MacDill Air Force Base, Florida: Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Press. pp. 48–62. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  21. ^ Dahle, Thorvald O. (March 2015). "Women and SWAT: Making Entry into Police Tactical Teams" (PDF). Law Enforcement Executive Forum. 15 (1). Macomb, Illinois: Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute: 21,25. ISSN 1552-9908. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2017.
  22. ^ Turnley, Jessica Glicken; Stewart, Dona J.; Rubright, Rich; Quirin, Jason (June 2014). Special Operations Forces Mixed-Gender Elite Teams (PDF). William Knarr (Project Leader). MacDill Air Force Base, Florida: Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Press. pp. 11, 85–86. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  23. ^ Watkin, Kenneth (2016). Fighting at the Legal Boundaries: Controlling the Use of Force in Contemporary Conflict. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 437. ISBN 9780190457976.
  24. ^ Newburn, Tim; Neyroud, Peter (2013). Dictionary of Policing. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 9781843922872.
  25. ^ Weber, Diane Cecilia (1999). Warrior Cops: The Ominous Growth of Paramilitarism in American Police Departments (PDF). Cato Briefing Papers No. 50. Washington: Cato Institute. p. 3. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  26. ^ Rantatalo 2013, p. 23.
  27. ^ "How to Coexist with a K-9 Unit". POLICE Magazine. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010.
  28. ^ a b c "Our operational groups and units". Ministry of Defence Police. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  29. ^ Ollhoff, Jim (2013). SWAT. ABDO Publishing Company. pp. 12–14. ISBN 9781614789383.
  30. ^ Sweeney, Patrick (2004). Modern Law Enforcement Weapons & Tactics. Krause Publications An F+W Media Publications Company. p. 21. ISBN 9781440224584.
  31. ^ Sweeney 2004.
  32. ^ a b Wipfler, E. John; American College of Emergency Physicians (2012). Tactical Medicine Essentials. Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. 43–44. ISBN 9780763778217.
  33. ^ Tactical Medicine Essentials 2012, p. 107.
  34. ^ Sweeney 2004, p. 198.
  35. ^ "Felon Busters: On The Job With LAPD SWAT". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. May 1997. pp. 53–58.
  36. ^ "SWAT Round-Up International 2006: Team Insights | Tactical Response Magazine". Hendonpub.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  37. ^ "HowStuffWorks 'How SWAT Teams Work'". People.howstuffworks.com. January 31, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  38. ^ Eden Pastora. "SWAT February 2003". Tacticaloperations.com. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  39. ^ "GUIDELINES for ARMORED RESCUE VEHICLES". January 1, 2008. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  40. ^ "Police Armored Rescue Vehicles: Tactical Rescue Considerations | Tactical Response Magazine". Hendonpub.com. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  41. ^ "L.A. police mark anniversary of infamous shootout that changed policing | National & World News | KATU.com – Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News – Portland, Oregon". KATU.com. Associated Press. March 1, 2007. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  42. ^ Tegler, Eric. "Loaded For Bear: Lenco's Bearcat Is Ready For Duty". Autoweek.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  43. ^ Gentile, Derek. "Bulletproof". Berkshire Eagle Online. Archived from the original on April 2, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  44. ^ "FHP Special Activities and Programs". Flhsmv.gov. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  45. ^ https://pytkam.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ahmedov_zhaloba_espch_0_0.pdf
  46. ^ "Login - THB". www.thb.info. Retrieved 2024-12-28.

Further reading

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