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Question
QUESTION: do you know anything on becoming a S.W.A.T. officer??
ANSWER: How old are you? How much education do you have?
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Well... i am 17 and in high school and i am writing a report on S.W.A.T. and i have questions that cannot be answered by the internet or peers... so i would like it if you could let me know the answers to my questions.
Ah ok. Sorry. I get hundreds of questions from kids who want to go into SWAT so I thought that is what you meant.
I never was in SWAT but make it perfectly clear that SWAT is NOTHING like you see on television. In fact there are no realistic tv shows. Shows like CSI and SVU?? (or whatever it is called) are not realistic and in fact these units do not exist in the real world.
Here is what I know about SWAT. Assuming that you graduate from the police academy and get to a district station and get out of the field training program you will be a patrol officer for at least five years and probably longer before you are eligible for SWAT. To suggest that you can right into SWAT from high school or college is laughable and you would not believe the number of students who believe that they can do this. I don't blame them because tv is influencing alot of what they see and believe. SWAT is not all action. In fact the vast majority of the time a SWAT officer spends his time training, patrolling like a regular patrol officer, serving warrants, and performing other functions. When there is a need for SWAT then he is called over the radio and responds to the scene, changes into his SWAT gear, and works with his team.
Let me know if any of this is not clear.
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Answers by Expert:
Jack Toomey
Expertise
U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.
Experience
Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.
Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.
Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.
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