CPD SWAT Team tackles high-risk crimes

The team has handled Columbia's most lethal situations since 1976.

By Pierce Courchaine

Published Nov. 3, 2009

When lives are in danger, the Columbia Police Department turns to its highly trained Special Weapons and Tactics Team. Since 1976, the CPD SWAT Team has been handling Columbia's most lethal crime situations.

"The primary responsibility of the SWAT Team is the resolution of difficult police situations outside the realm of ordinary patrol response, through the use of highly developed skills, tactics, and specialized equipment," said Tom Dresner, former SWAT Commander and current Deputy Chief of Police, in an e-mail.

The SWAT Team is used in an array of situations, including serving warrants.

"(We serve) 60 to 80 high-risk search warrants per year and usually one to five callouts or code reds per year," Dresner said.

Code reds are situations outside the realm of typical police officers. According to the CPD Web site, these incidents include, but are not limited to, hostage situations, barricaded subjects, riots or service of high-risk search warrants.

"It's less about guns as it is about the techniques and management of incidents," CPD Sgt. Michael Maynard said. "The gun only gets you so far."

According to the CPD SWAT Manual of Operations, personnel are trained monthly in the classroom and in the field on maneuvers, situation management and physical training procedures. Personnel are also tested semi-annually on a physical agility course.

"We take the fun right back out of it by our requirements and what we expect you to do," Maynard said. "I'm 40 years old, and it is a physical strain and punishment on your body."

Maynard also said there is no regimented physical fitness program for the SWAT Team and staying in shape is the responsibility of each team member.

Quarterly training on marksmanship and yearly surprise training is also required for all personnel. The CPD SWAT Team is trained to use an assortment of equipment, from 12-gauge shotguns to 37 mm gas guns.

"We're a little over the national standard of training for a part time unit," Maynard said.

The national average is eight hours of training a month for a part time team. The CPD SWAT team does about 10 hours a month, Maynard said.

CPD accepts volunteers to the team with a background in police work or armed services.

According to the manual, SWAT is compromised of different roles and positions. The team commander is the captain and is responsible for making critical decisions. The rest of the team is made up of rescue, arrest, sniper and containment teams.

The rescue and arrest teams are inside the perimeter of the situation and are responsible for rescuing hostages and arresting suspects, the manual stated. The sniper and containment teams work outside the perimeter. The sniper team provides observation, suppressive fire and suspect neutralization, and the containment team makes sure the public is safe.

According to the Web site, SWAT also works with the CPD Crisis Negotiation Team.

Dresner said SWAT teams are often misrepresented by Hollywood.

"Our mission is the protection of life, all life, when possible," Dresner said. "That's how we operate. TV is B.S."

Maynard said after all the training, being a part of the SWAT team is worth it.

"It was a calling," Maynard said. "I love being a part of the team and knowing I can make a difference."