SWAT

SWAT Team

The mission of the SWAT Team is to save lives. To that end, it is SWAT's primary responsibility to respond to barricaded persons, hostage incidents, emotionally disturbed persons who pose a threat to the community, and sniper incidents. In addition, the Greenfield SWAT Team functions as a mobile, flexible force for special police problems that require a highly trained, specially equipped and disciplined unit.


Special problems that may require a SWAT Team response include:

  • Fugitive apprehension
  • High-risk search warrants
  • Security details
  • Special assignments from the Chief of Police
  • Surveillance

SWAT members are officers drawn primarily from the Patrol Division, extensively trained and functioning part-time, as needed, in their SWAT role.

Mwrap

Swat Team Mission Statement

Recognizing that the presence of a highly trained, highly skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, police officers and suspects; and recognizing that a well managed "team" response to critical incidents usually results in successful resolution of critical incidents, it is the intent of the Greenfield SWAT Team to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for the Greenfield Police Department to utilize in the handling of critical incidents.

Hostage Negotiation Team

The Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) is an integral part of the department's planned response to critical incidents. It is most effective when used in concert with a strong tactical presence.

Training

The HNT is comprised of a supervisor, detectives and police officers. All members have been formally trained in Basic Hostage Negotiations and some have completed an Advanced Hostage Negotiations course, both of which are taught by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The HNT could more accurately be referred to as a Crisis Negotiation Team since most incidents do not involve hostages. The HNT has successfully negotiated the surrender of individuals who were armed and barricaded in various locations including homes, apartments and a psychiatric hospital. Weapons used in incidents have included handguns, high-powered rifles, shotguns and the threat of explosive devices.

Team Goals

The Hostage Negotiation Team's goal is to secure the voluntary surrender of individuals who are armed and refusing to surrender. Even if that goal is not accomplished, the team is able to gather intelligence and buy valuable time that allows for better decision making and tactical planning. The negotiation component of our response to critical incidents is part of the Department's overall goal to resolve these incidents with no loss of life.