Duties & Responsibilities

The Santa Rosa Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was formed to assist the department in better responding to critical incidents that occur in the City. These types of incidents include barricaded suspects, hostage situations, armed persons not responding to police officers' commands, high risk search warrants, high risk arrest warrants and crowd control.

Swat Officers

Officers assigned to the team are trained in equipment and techniques above and beyond what is provided to patrol officers. SWAT consists of a captain, a lieutenant, sergeants and police officers. The team trains twice a month.

Training

Santa Rosa Police has conducted joint training at outside facilities with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team every year. The department also has a Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT). SWAT and HNT have two joint training sessions per year.

SWAT members must maintain a high level of fitness. Because of this, physical training is included in each training session. Additionally, each SWAT member must pass a physical qualification test twice a year.