Special Weapons & Tactics | SWAT

Police officers with the Salt Lake City S.W.A.T. team pictured during training.

Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (SWAT) are civilian law enforcement tactical teams that are called in to deal with situations outside of the normal capabilities of regular police units.

Such situations may include high risk arrests and searches, active shooter scenarios, barricaded suspects, terrorist attacks and riots.

SWAT teams are typically comprised of police officers who are normally on regular duties but who are on call for SWAT operations when they arise.

SWAT teams use a range of tactical gear including body armor, ballistic shields (as seen above) kevalr helmets, eye protection, assault webbing and knee pads.

Weapons include M4 or other 5.56mm carbines, 12-gauge shotguns, MP5 SMGs and 9mm, .

40 or .

45 sidearms.

As with military special reaction teams, SWAT teams may often organize into entry teams / assaulters and sniper / observer teams.