You are here:

Careers: Police/about the swat team

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/24/2007


Question
Hi my names Mariah and I'am in my last year at jr. high and it is career week next week and we have to choose a career we want to do in the future and i need some help on swat. I looked on many diff. sits and I want to know the education and what it takes to be on the swat team.

Answer
Hi Mariah,

First I am sorry no one answered your question. I just saw it and thought I would answer it for you.

To be a SWAT officer you have to first become a police officer. That requires at least a GED or High School diploma. Most police departments these days want a college degree of some sort. At least a 2 year.

Once you become a police officer, most departments require at least 1 year on the road as a patrol officer before you can apply to be a SWAT officer. Some require even a few more years (up to 3 that I know of).

You have to understand that 99% of SWAT teams are what we call secondary positions. That means that your a police officer or detective or whatever your assignment is and then you are a SWAT officer second. When they have a need for SWAT, they call you and you go to the scene where your are needed. So you carry all your gear with you in the trunk of your patrol car or its in the SWAT vehicle that responds to the scene.

So thats what you need to become a SWAT officer. I hope that helps answer your question. Again I am sorry that the person you asked to answer your question did not, but I hope I was able to help you out. Feel free to ask me any others you may have about this or any other law enforcement question.  

Careers: Police

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.