GO 580.1520Special Weapons and Tactics SWAT Team

SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 580.15 Page 1 of 3 580.15 SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS (SWAT) TEAM 02-02-2024 PURPOSE The purpose of this order is to identify roles/responsibility, duties, call out procedures, physical requirements and specialized equipment of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team members. POLICY It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to maintain a group of specially trained and disciplined officers qualified to handle specific emergency situations. PROCEDURE A. GENERAL 1. In the event of a barricaded subject(s), hostage(s) or sniper(s) situations, or need for a high- risk warrant service, the special weapons and tactics employed by SWAT enable the department to respond to an emergency situation with professional expertise. This provides the optimum police reaction to specific emergency situations while providing a maximum level of safety to all persons involved. 2. SWAT team members shall maintain expertise in areas; to include a. Scouting. b. Team movement . c. Slow/dynamic entries . d. Chemical agents . e. Weapons usage . f. Barricaded subjects . g. Hostage situations . h. Building searches . i. Explosive breaching. j. Diversionary devices . k. SWAT/K9 integrated deployment . 3. All SWAT personnel involved in a tactical deployment shall attend any debriefing of the incident. 4. SWAT shall only be requested by a watch commander (WC) . 5. As part of any tactical deployment of SWAT, Incident Commanders (IC) shall also consider contacting a negotiator. B. METRO SPECIAL OPERATIONS LIEUTENANT 1. The Metro Special Operations l ieutenant shall also be known as the SWAT commander. In this capacity, the commander shall maintain two SWAT teams. 2. The Metro Special Operations lieutenant or a designee shall : a. Approve all proposed SWAT team training programs. b. Have the overall responsibility of procuring and maintaining all specialized weapons and equipment that is unique to the SWAT function. C. SWAT SERGEANT 1. SWAT sergeants are under the direct command of the Metro Special Operations lieutenant. 2. Each sergeant assigned to SWAT shall be known as a SWAT team leader and shall: a. Coordinate team activities with the SWAT commander during any tactical deployment. This shall include information gathering on suspects and the suspects' location, deployment of the SWAT team and perimeter groups, and the formulation and execution of tactical plans. b. Directly supervise officers assigned to SWAT, making necessary corrections and commands when appropriate. c. Ensure a training program is developed, to include weapons training, and their related written debriefs are completed for the t eam's monthly training and provided to the Metro Special Operation lieutenant. d. Conduct annual inspections of each officers ’ assigned equipment and its condition. e. Monitor on- duty workout time and ensure that all SWAT team members maintain the minimum level of established physical agility. SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 580.15 Page 2 of 3 3. Upon completion of any tactical deployment, the SWAT team leader shall submit a concise report to the Metro Special Operations lieutenant. The concise report should include: a. A list of deployed SWAT team members and the equipment that that was utilized. b. The reason why SWAT was utilized. c. A summary of the situation and the tactics used. d. Problems that were encountered during the tactical deployment. e. Recommendations for consideration during future SWAT tactical deployments. D. SWAT OFFICER 1. SWAT officers shall : a. Participate in all weapons and tactics training to ensure proper completion of assigned tasks. b. Maintain all assigned weapons and equipment. c. Maintain a participatory and cooperative demeanor during training exercises and tactical deployments. 2. During a tactical deployment, each officer shall adhere to assigned tasks to prevent jeopardizing the team ’s effort and to lessen the hazards to fellow officers and citizens. E. PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST 1. All officers seeking assignment to SWAT shall pass the SWAT physical agility test before placement on a SWAT team. 2. Each officer assigned to SWAT will be allowed on- duty time to assist in the maintenance of physical conditioning. 3. All members of SWAT shall pass the SWAT physical agility test no less than twice each calendar year. 4. Current physical agility requirements are available for review in the Metro Special Operations office. 5. If necessary, the SWAT supervisor may order any SWAT team member to take the existing physical agility test to determine compliance. F. USE OF SWAT 1. The first SWAT officer to arrive shall assume the role of SWAT officer in charge and contact the IC for a briefing. The SWAT officer in charge shall direct the activities of the SWAT team until relieved by a SWAT supervisor. 2. As each SWAT officer arrives, they shall report to the command post. 3. The SWAT supervisor shall deploy SWAT personnel and equipment as the situation dictates, which may include entry/arrest teams, inner perimeter positions, and scout teams. 4. The SWAT supervisor shall prepare plans of action which could include plans for an assault and for deployment of chemical agents. These plans shall be reviewed with the IC. 5. All persons apprehended by SWAT during a tactical deployment shall be released to off icers designated by the IC. 6. SWAT officers shall prepare reports as necessary in connection with their role in the tactical or apprehension. 7. Evidence coming to the attention of a SWAT officer during a tactical deployment shall be brought to the attention of the officer designated by the IC. G. SITUATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES