Editing SWAT (section)

== SWAT equipment ==
SWAT teams use equipment designed for a variety of specialist situations including [[Close quarters combat|close-quarters combat]] (CQC) in an urban environment. The particular pieces of equipment vary from unit to unit, but there are some consistent trends in what they wear and use.<ref name="wcsert">{{cite web
| url         = http://www.wicomicosheriff.com/sert.htm
| title       = Wicomico County Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.)
| work        = Wicomico County Sheriff's Office
| year        = 2009
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130428025627/http://www.wicomicosheriff.com/sert.htm
| archive-date = April 28, 2013
}}</ref> Much of their equipment is indistinguishable from that supplied to the military, not least because much of it is [[military surplus]].<ref name="ibtm4">{{cite web
| url         = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ferguson-shooting-missouri-swat-teams-armed-m4-assault-rifles-1461507
| title       = Ferguson Shooting: Missouri SWAT Teams Armed with M4 Assault Rifles
| work        = [[International Business Times]]
| date        = August 17, 2014
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819222309/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ferguson-shooting-missouri-swat-teams-armed-m4-assault-rifles-1461507
| archive-date = August 19, 2014
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url         = http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil/leso/Pages/default.aspx
| title       = About the 1033 Program
| work        = [[DLA Disposition Services]]
| year        = 2014
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20141209035113/http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil/leso/Pages/default.aspx
| archive-date = December 9, 2014
}}</ref>

=== Clothing ===
[[File:Active shooter exercise at Navy EOD school 131203-F-oc707-008.jpg|thumb|[[Crestview, Florida|Crestview Police Department]] SWAT officers wearing different combat uniforms during an [[Active shooter training|active shooter exercise]] at [[Eglin Air Force Base]] in 2013]]
SWAT personnel wear similar uniforms to those worn by military personnel. Traditional SWAT uniforms are usually solid tones of dark blue, black, grey, tan, or olive green, though uniforms with [[military camouflage]] have become popular with some SWAT units since the 2000s.<ref>{{cite book
| last  = Sweeney
| first = Patrick
| url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=Sibal4UgsCMC&pg=PA21
| title = Modern Law Enforcement Weapons & Tactics
| work  = [[Krause Publications]]
| date  = 2004
| page  = 21
| publisher = F+W Media
| isbn = 9781440224584
}}</ref>

Early SWAT units were equipped with a variety of headgear such as [[M1 helmet]]s, [[motorcycle helmet]]s, [[bicycle helmet|bump helmet]]s, or even soft [[patrol cap]]s.<ref name=sween23>{{cite book
| last  = Sweeney
| first = Patrick
| url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=Sibal4UgsCMC&pg=PA21
| title = Modern Law Enforcement Weapons & Tactics
| work  = Krause Publications
| date  = 2004
| page  = 23
| publisher = F+W Media
| isbn = 9781440224584
}}</ref> Modern SWAT units use helmets similar to those issued by the U.S. military, such as the [[Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops|PASGT helmet]] or [[Future Assault Shell Technology helmet]], though they may also use [[Riot protection helmet|riot helmets]] or soft headgear such as [[cap]]s. [[Balaclava (clothing)|Balaclavas]] and [[goggles]] are often used to protect the face and protect the identities of team members.<ref name=sween23 /><ref name="Tactical Medicine Essentials">{{cite book
| url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=xuFZlbJVxc4C&pg=PA43
| title = Tactical Medicine Essentials
| work  = [[American College of Emergency Physicians]]
| date  = 2012
| pages = 43–44
| isbn = 9781449649555
| last3 = Campbell
| first3 = John E.
| last4 = Heiskell
| first4 = Lawrence E.
| publisher = Jones & Bartlett Publishers
}}</ref> [[Bulletproof vest|Ballistic vests]], sometimes including rigid plate inserts, are standard-issue.<ref name="Tactical Medicine Essentials" /> These vests are labelled with "POLICE", "SHERIFF", "SWAT", or similar, to allow for easy identification.<ref>{{cite book
| url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=xuFZlbJVxc4C&pg=PA107
| title = Tactical Medicine Essentials
| work  = American College of Emergency Physicians
| date  = 2012
| pages = 107
| isbn = 9781449649555
| last3 = Campbell
| first3 = John E.
| last4 = Heiskell
| first4 = Lawrence E.
| publisher = Jones & Bartlett Publishers
}}</ref>

=== Weapons and equipment ===
SWAT units are equipped with special weapons that are not normally used by regular police units, typically military firearms such as [[assault rifle]]s, [[submachine gun]]s, [[riot shotgun]]s, [[sniper rifle]]s, [[Riot control#Riot control agent (RCA)|riot control agents]], [[smoke grenade]]s, [[stun grenade]]s, and [[Blast ball|stinger grenades]].<ref>{{cite book
| last  = Sweeney
| first = Patrick
| url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=Sibal4UgsCMC&q=mp-5
| title = Modern Law Enforcement Weapons & Tactics
| work  = Krause Publications
| date  = 2004
| pages = 198, 227
| publisher = F+W Media
| isbn = 9781440224584
}}</ref><ref name="popfel">{{cite web |date=May 1997 |title=Felon Busters: On The Job With LAPD SWAT |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XmYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT53 |work=[[Popular Mechanics]] |publisher=Hearst Magazines |pages=53–58}}</ref><ref name="articlearchive1">{{cite web
| url        = http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3395
| title        = SWAT Round-Up International 2006: Team Insights &#124; Tactical Response Magazine
| publisher        = Hendonpub.com
| access-date        = June 5, 2009
| archive-date        = September 4, 2015
| archive-url        = https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125331/http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=3395
| url-status        = dead
}}</ref><ref name="howstuffworks1">{{cite web
| url        = http://people.howstuffworks.com/swat-team2.htm
| title      = HowStuffWorks 'How SWAT Teams Work'
| publisher  = People.howstuffworks.com
| access-date = June 5, 2009
| date = January 31, 2007
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| author     = Eden Pastora
| url        = http://www.tacticaloperations.com/swatfeb2003/index.html
| title      = SWAT February 2003
| publisher  = Tacticaloperations.com
| access-date = June 5, 2009
}}</ref> Though these armaments make SWAT teams resemble military [[infantry]] [[squad]]s, they are still law enforcement units tasked with [[arrest]], and are thus often also equipped with [[Non-lethal weapon|less-lethal weapon]]s such as [[taser]]s, [[pepper spray]], [[Pepper-spray projectile|pepperball]]s, [[baton round]]s, [[bean bag round]]s, and [[rubber bullet]]s to incapacitate suspects. Many SWAT units also have access to specialized equipment such as [[ballistic shield]]s, [[Door breaching|entry tools]], [[battering ram]]s, [[SWAT vehicle|armored vehicles]], [[Thermography|thermal]] and [[night-vision device]]s, [[Fiberscope|fiberscope cameras]], and [[motion detector]]s.<ref>{{cite book
| url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=k01_aKN8LkIC&q=%22sting%22+%22tear%22+%22flashbang%22&pg=PA32
| title = SWAT
| publisher  = ABDO Publishing Company
| year  = 2013
| pages = 12–14
| isbn = 9781614789383
| last1 = Ollhoff
| first1 = Jim
}}</ref>

[[Worldwide usage of police dogs#United States|Canine units]] may also be incorporated within SWAT teams, or may be used on an ''ad hoc'' basis.<ref>{{cite web
| url         = http://www.policemag.com/Blog/SWAT/Story/2009/10/How-to-Coexist-with-a-K-9-Unit.aspx
| title       = How to Coexist with a K-9 Unit
| work        = POLICE Magazine
| date        = October 7, 2009
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100620193823/http://www.policemag.com/Blog/SWAT/Story/2009/10/How-to-Coexist-with-a-K-9-Unit.aspx
| archive-date = June 20, 2010
}}</ref>

=== Vehicles ===
{{Main|SWAT vehicle}}
[[File:May 31 2020 Charleston County curfew.png|thumb|SWAT officers on a [[Lenco BearCat]], an [[infantry mobility vehicle]] notable for common police use, in [[Charleston County, South Carolina]]]]
SWAT units often employ SWAT vehicles, also called "armored rescue vehicles" (ARV),<ref>{{cite web
| title      = GUIDELINES for ARMORED RESCUE VEHICLES
| url        = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1421340761.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105205538/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1421340761.html
| url-status   = dead
| archive-date = November 5, 2012
| date       = January 1, 2008
| access-date = January 25, 2011
}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 11, 2001 |title=Police Armored Rescue Vehicles: Tactical Rescue Considerations &#124; Tactical Response Magazine |url=http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/articlearchive/details.aspx?ID=207348 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324101756/http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/articlearchive/details.aspx?ID=207348 |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=Hendonpub.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 1, 2007 |title=L.A. police mark anniversary of infamous shootout that changed policing &#124; National & World News &#124; KATU.com – Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News – Portland, Oregon |url=http://www.katu.com/news/national/6183961.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320014543/http://www.katu.com/news/national/6183961.html |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=KATU.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Common armored SWAT vehicles include the [[Lenco BearCat]], Lenco BEAR, [[BAE Caiman]], [[Cadillac Gage Ranger]], [[Cadillac Gage Commando]], and similar vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tegler |first=Eric |title=Loaded For Bear: Lenco's Bearcat Is Ready For Duty |url=http://www.autoweek.com/article/20050509/FREE/505090718 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622031246/http://www.autoweek.com/article/20050509/FREE/505090718 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=June 5, 2009 |publisher=Autoweek.com}}</ref><ref name="berkshirebusinessoutlook1">{{cite web |title=Bulletproof  |url=http://www.berkshireeagle.com/berkshirebusinessoutlook/ci_3609336 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402031236/http://www.berkshireeagle.com/berkshirebusinessoutlook/ci_3609336 |archive-date=April 2, 2007 |access-date=June 5, 2009 |publisher=Berkshire Eagle Online |first1=Derek |last1=Gentile }}</ref><ref name="Lebovich">{{cite web |last=Lebovich |first=Jen |date=July 21, 2004 |title=Armored truck newest NYPD weapon |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/armored-truck-newest-nypd-weapon-article-1.603178 |access-date=November 9, 2015 |work=Daily News |location=New York |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103002109/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/armored-truck-newest-nypd-weapon-article-1.603178 |archive-date= Jan 3, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="specwarnet1">{{cite web |title=TacLink – Washington DC ERT |url=http://www.specwarnet.net/taclink/Police/WA_DC_Metro_ERT.htm |access-date=June 5, 2009 |publisher=Specwarnet.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FHP Special Activities and Programs |url=http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/html/spec_act.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219011438/http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/html/spec_act.html |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=June 5, 2009 |publisher=Flhsmv.gov}}</ref> Some departments use decommissioned, disarmed military vehicles acquired from the [[Law Enforcement Support Office]]. Alternatively, SWAT teams may use [[unmarked police car]]s to respond faster, provide better mobility when splitting up, or avoid detection.

[[Police aircraft]], commonly [[helicopter]]s, are used to provide aerial reconnaissance or insertion via [[Abseiling|rappelling]] or [[fast-roping]].

The use of armored vehicles by SWAT teams is controversial, and it has been alleged that police armored vehicles escalate situations that could otherwise be resolved peacefully.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Iyer |first1=Vikrant |title=Policing in Minority Communities |date=2025 |publisher=Educohack Press |url={{Google books|35lIEQAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes|page=PT99}}|isbn=9789361525209}}</ref><ref name="NYT2014">{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |title=War Gear Flows to Police Departments |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/09/us/war-gear-flows-to-police-departments.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=8 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609153510/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/09/us/war-gear-flows-to-police-departments.html |archive-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Some smaller police departments and sheriff's departments also acquire armored vehicles despite few incidents occurring in their jurisdictions that would necessitate their use.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Steven M. |last2=Massey |first2=David|last3=Koski|first3=Connie M.|last4=Fitch|first4=Brian D.|title=Introduction to Policing |date=2020 |publisher=SAGE Publications |url={{Google books|ZBl7DwAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes|page=PA45}}|isbn=9781544339610 |page=45 |edition=4}}</ref><ref name="NYT2014"/>