Regionalization as an Answer for Small Town SWAT Teams

Citizens, city councils, and elected officials expect local police departments to respond to and handle a variety of dangerous and violent situations. Many of these situations require equipment and skills that are advanced well beyond the standard training officers receive in police academy. Because of the dangers involved, many agencies see the need to develop special units often called Specialized Weapons and Tactics teams (SWAT). Because of a number of complexities, budget constraints and manpower issues, many small police agencies find it difficult to staff, fund, and maintain SWAT teams. Beyond the initial overview, administrative control issues may also emerge. The purpose of this research paper is to identify and resolve the resulting issues and recommend a number of solutions. Any agency which lacks the employees, funding, or equipment needed to successfully contain and control an incident should partner with other agencies of similar geographic location. The combining of resources results in a greater benefit to the citizen safety as well as reducing economic strain. To support this position, the researcher utilized articles, newspapers, internet sites, and publications from the leading experts in the field of SWAT research and standards