What happens when a situation arises that is beyond the scope of a Patrol Deputy? The DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office, Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team is notified. S.W.A.T. is a group of highly trained and specially equipped deputies that are on call twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. They can be deployed and fully operational anywhere in the parish in less than an hour.
S.W.A.T. was organized in late 1993, by former Chief Deputy Andy Anderson, under the administration of Sheriff Hugh Bennett. By 1994 S.W.A.T. was fully staffed and operational. During this time training was received from The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office as well as the Broward County (FL.) Sheriff's Office. The main purpose of S.W.A.T. during its early days was mostly High Risk Narcotics Search Warrants. Currently S.W.A.T. is staffed with deputies from all Divisions of the Sheriff's Office including Patrol, Investigations, Corrections, and Court Security. All team members attend a Basic "S.W.A.T." school that is sanctioned by the Louisiana Tactical Police Officers Association. All team members are cross-trained in various aspects of S.W.A.T. operations. Specialized training for the team now comes from a wide variety of sources including local, state, and federal agencies. Some team members have also received training from former United States Army "Delta", Los Angeles P.D. S.W.A.T., as well as former Russian Special Forces (Spetznas).
S.W.A.T. trains multiple times monthly to ensure they are prepared to assist The DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office and any other requesting law enforcement agency with a tactical response to a critical incident. These incidents include, but are not limited to Hostage Rescue, Barricaded Gunman, Active Shooter, Fugitive Apprehension, High Risk Warrant Service, and Personal Protection.
The DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office recognizes that the presence of highly trained specially equipped tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, deputies and suspects. It is for this purpose that the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office proudly maintains the Special Weapons and Tactics Team.
...He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4
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