Expert: Loren Stevens - 7/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: I was wondering if you knew about SWAT and if it is true that the only Police Departments with full time SWAT units are the NYPD and LAPD.Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: Hello Morgan,
This is not an easy question to answer. Much depends on how "full-time" is defined.
I know of a number of agencies that employ officers "full-time" as SWAT, and often use them to suppliment other needs of uniform field services. This might include "routine' patrol in a saturation initiative, in a high crime area. Other times, they are used in arrest warrant service. Much depends on the demand for services of an agency, compared to the resources authorized to meet those demands.
With many/most SWAT units, a huge amount of their time is allocated to various and repetitive training needs.
The short answer to your question, is that there are several agencies that maintain a full time SWAT unit.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is there a specific college or school that police officers go to, or do they just go to a normal college. If they go to a normal college, what should I major in if I plan to be a police officer, then intend to eventually be SWAT.

ANSWER: Hello Morgan,
There is no SWAT school per se. But lets back up a bit.
SWAT is a specialized subdivision of a subdivision of a police agency.
Prior to being even considered, you will need to get hired on the agency at the entry level position, usually uniform patrol.
You'll want to distinguish yourself at that position. You'll need to complete the academy, and field training. You'll need to be off probation, prior to being eligible for a specialized unit.
Now, keep in the back of your head, that these positions are highly sought. There will be returning Army and Marine combat veterans with some of the relevant training and experience under their belt.
The reality is, s/he who can pony up the best/most ksa's, will generally be favored in these specialized duties.
Regular community colleges and Universities will serve you well at this juncture.
Along with the required core classes, focus in on written and oral communications classes too, and it will serve you well.
You'll also want to consult with a campus academic advisor. Tell him or her what your ambitions are, and they are positioned best to tailor a program for you.
There are several areas of study to entertain. Criminalistics, criminology, social sciences, criminal justice, political science etc. Also, consider going for a double major, no minor. And, select those two fields that will compliment each other in your career choices.
Hope this is helpful.
Good Luck,'
Regards,
loren

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is a police academy part of training to become a police officer? If so, is it considered "college" or training that is required?
Are you saying I should go to a normal college and take 2 majors, ones you listed, and that a police academy is part of required training in order to become a police officer?

Answer
Hello Morgan.
My suggestions for college, are about college, ie., post high school academics.
The "police academy" is another animal.
Medium to large agencies have their own academy. Smaller agencies often times do a collective, and assemble a regional academy. And still others do a state offered academy, usually referred to as a "POST" (police officer's standards and training) academy.
Being "certified" as a police officer in any city, county or state police agency, needs to comport with state regs, and often is calibrated to national patterns of accepted training.
A "police academy" is NOT considered as COLLEGE.
Some would argue, that the FBI National Academy could be an exception. They are chartered through a state university, and college credits are given.
However, the NA is intended for middle and upper police management, and existing officers.
The Southern Police Institute out of the U of Louisville also has police courses and a designed program for already commissioned officers.
The vast majority of agencies do not get tangled up with college and universities on what is offered, and who is a student. That, is the university's or college's business.
However, police academies are for those men and women who have been hired, and in pursuit of certification.
They need to complete the academy, then "field training" prior to being recognized as a trained officer, at the lowest level of acceptance.
Beyond that, there is always tons of advanced training, specialized training, and so on.
You might want to sit down with a recruiter at an agency near you, and collect their hand-out materials. This, would fill in the blanks, that may still be confusing to you.
As for college, please do not view my opinions as gospel.
If you are entertaining college, you NEED to sit down with an academic adviser, and plot out your educational plans.
Good Luck,
loren