Does anyone know about the requirements for SWAT? I have 9 years military experience, and I heard some departments require you to be a normal patrol cop for at least 2 years before trying out for SWAT.I was wondering if I could go straight to the try-outs I want to get some personal advice from someone that has actually done it before looking at the police department websites.
2007-02-23 02:31:37 · 8 answers · asked by The Opolis 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I know I have to go through the academy. But I meant after I'm finished with it.
2007-02-23 02:56:35 · update #1
This is for mostly for Quasimodo1957,
First of all I’m not some high schooler fresh off the streets that just got done playing video games. I know it’s the real thing. I’ve been through two and a half deployments and I’m 100% sure I’ve had more bullets fly by my head than you ever will. So I’m pretty sure I could handle the stress in Connecticut or wherever you’re from. And I know about the “fun and games” you’re referring to. And I wouldn’t waltz into an interview drooling about anything. But is it wrong to have a goal of joining the SWAT team? And who said anything about making it a mission to kill people? I never said I was going to come in and try to run things using my military experience. That would be stupid. I probably would try to keep it quiet that I was in the military. I wanted to come in and learn things that I hadn’t while in the Army.
2007-02-23 04:40:42 · update #2
You assumed that I am some gung-ho idiot with a cowboy attitude that wants to join the team just to kill people. Well I’m assuming you’re just one of those old, fat, bitter cops that could never make it into the SWAT team in the 22 years you’ve served. Stop acting like you know how I am and how I work. You got me all wrong.
2007-02-23 04:42:25 · update #3
Our SWAT team (we call them the ERT) is expected to take all kinds of calls. They have to be trained as "general purpose" police officers because they do much more than just high drama explosive entry type calls. No one can just jump into the tac team from the general public (military or not). They are required to go through the regular police training and then apply for the unit once they are done. There is no specific timpe period they have to wait before applying (except for the probationary period).
We do have a few ex-military persons in our tac unit that were probably selected for that very reason, so your experience will be an asset.
2007-02-23 02:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Some advice for you sport. And it's good advice too. Police departments will shut you off like a switch when you waltz into an interview and drool talking about being a SWAT team member.
Its all fun and games until you kill someone. Real fun and games if you do it accidentally. It's no video game and you can bet that the stress levels are through the roof.
You may take offesnse or not but my 22 years on the job tell me that you are not what any police department with high standards would want to take on board.
Sorry pal...but I call 'em the way I see 'em. However there is always one that takes on certain guys and then regrets it later. If you land a job I hope you see the light and put this 'cowboy" attitude behind. Most of us in this profession are happy to find we made it out alive.
Once you're killed...you get a swell funeral...a name on a state plaque somewhere...maybe a stretch of highway or an overpass named after you. Then...you're forgotten. Don't be in such a rush. The name of the game is to help the public and provide a service...not to make it a mission to kill people...criminals or not.
2007-02-23 03:13:13 · answer #2 · answered by Quasimodo 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well sir, the requirement differ from state to state and department to department, but I can tell you that on my department in California the requirements are you complete the police academy, and complete your probationary period, which happens to be 18 months, and have at least two years of patrol experience with good evaluations. Now I know that there are different requirements for different departments, but most that I have seen are comparable to the above listed requirements. I have yet to hear of a department that lets a person try out for SWAT right off the bat.
2007-02-23 02:38:40 · answer #3 · answered by jorge n 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All I can tell you is that if you really want to go into law enforcement. You're serious about becoming a SWAT member: then join the LAPD. Even if you don't make it to become a SWAT member: you will eventually make it. Don't even think about any other department.
2007-02-23 03:37:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
For the most part, you first have to comeplete the academy and then your probationary period and the apply and bleieve me there are many applicants for these sepecit assisgnments and many go with experience and seniority, but good luck, we need many good officers on our teams. Been there done that and still doing it.
2007-02-23 02:44:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to put your time in as a street cop. S.W.A.T. cops dont just run and gun. they have put thier time in.
I cant think of any team that would want you on it. On my old team we choose not the chief. we didnt want cowboys and heros we want good cops and they dont come striaght from the military or the academy
Maybe you should stay in the military sounds like you need the constant supervision
2007-02-23 04:19:44 · answer #6 · answered by common sense 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No department takes people straight into SWAT. Even if you were prior service SF, SEALs, or underwater sniper for the agency that has no name, you would still have to wait out your probationary period before they would let you try out.
2007-02-23 04:11:49 · answer #7 · answered by Judge Dredd 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I thought it was 4 years traffic cop. either way if you maintain your edge from your military service you should get accepted into the training program. I'm not a cop so this is just my personal opinion
2007-02-23 02:51:02 · answer #8 · answered by mark_grvr 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋