Careers: Police/SWAT

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Expert: - 2/19/2008


Question
I'm 16 and a sophmore at Western Albemarle and I've been thinking about joining SWAT as a sniper and i was wondering if you could tell me how long and or the requirements for it and what kind of training is involved?

thank you!

Answer
Mr. Knight,

Thanks for the question.

Most of the time you will need to be employed with a police agency a couple of years before being eligible to try out for a SWAT position. A lot of SWAT positions are highly competitive and you might be up against other people wanting the same position.

You must be in excellent shape physically. At a minimum, you should be able to run a mile with body armor on and full uniform requirements, pull-up/push-ups, to simulate going over fences, walls, and etc.

For the sniper position you also must be a skilled marksman, missing is not acceptable.

Some SWAT teams and departments also require that you refrain from smoking and/or alcohol while assigned to a SWAT team, and go through a rigorous psychological examination.

I am sure this is not all that some departments require, but it is a general start.

I hope this helps you out.

Good luck and best wishes!

Careers: Police

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William Payne

Expertise

South Carolina general law enforcement career information. South Carolina Criminal & Traffic Laws. Field Training Manager, Court Systems, Police Recruiting & Hiring, Personnel/Employee Evaluations, Non-Lethal Weapons & Use of Force.

Experience

Retired after 24-1/2 years experience as a Municipal Police Officer. 19 years as a Sergeant. I guest instructed at the State of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. I am a Community Policing Instructor, Field Training Officer, Instructor-Trainer in the Monadnock Expandable/PR-24 Batons, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Law Enforcement Driving Instructor, O.C. Spray Instructor, Taser Instructor, and liaison for State Accreditation Standards. I also serve as an Adjunct Instructor for Park University, where I teach in the Criminal Justice Administration Degree Program.I am currently Director of Security for a major hospital system in South Carolina.

Organizations
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer's Association.

Education/Credentials
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Park University.
Master of Arts Degree in Management, Webster University.
Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development, Webster University.

Datamaster Operator, Monadnock PR-24/M.E.B. Instructor-Trainer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Field Training Manager, Certified Basic Investigator, Certified in Homicide Investigations.


Awards and Honors
Beaufort County, South Carolina, Police Officer of the Year, 1990.

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