Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) 

Currently - 48 Officers 

The Washington County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is a multi-agency special response unit made up of qualified city and county officers drawn from the eight law enforcement agencies serving Washington County. The team currently has 48 members: three commanders, 31 tactical members, 10 negotiators, and four communications members. Many SWAT members are cross-trained in specialties such as sniping, gas delivery, paramedics, and canine handling.

The team gathers once a month for an eight-hour training session. During these sessions, officers practice defensive tactics, tactical planning, special weapons training, and mission operations, and they must meet qualification standards several times a year with each weapon they are assigned. Two Forest Lake Police Officers are currently assigned to the Washington County SWAT Team.

Mission Statement

Recognizing that a highly trained, highly skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, police officers, and suspects, and recognizing that a well-managed team response to critical incidents usually leads to successful resolution, the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Cottage Grove, Woodbury, Stillwater, Bayport, St. Paul Park, Oak Park Heights, and Forest Lake Police Departments intend to work together to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for agencies included in this multi-jurisdictional agreement that need assistance with critical incidents.

Mission

The SWAT team's mission is to support jurisdictions within Washington County and agencies outside Washington County that request mutual aid assistance from the team. Critical incidents are defined as follows:

• Hostage Situation
• Barricade Situations
• Sniper Situations
• High Risk Apprehension
• High Risk Warrant Service
• Personal Protection
• Special Assignments deemed necessary by the Chief Law Enforcement Officers Board based upon a high level of threat.

The Washington County SWAT team offers a challenging career development opportunity for every qualified officer or deputy in the county. It builds a resource within each department for officers who become capable of teaching tactical thinking and risk management to other officers in enforcement situations.