Team Assessment Program

The Washington State Tactical Officers Association (WSTOA) strives to elevate the professionalism of SWAT teams within the state of Washington by providing on-site assessments of requesting teams.


Process:

Any agency or team that wishes to have SWAT Team assessment should:

  • Determine the team’s purpose and identify specific needs and goals for the assessment.
  • Determine the composition of the assessment team
  • Approve WSTOA’s proposal, which will be based on the teams stated goals for the assessment
  • Schedule on-site visit(s)
  • Complete assessment forms and on-site assessments and interviews
  • Conduct out-brief to the team contact(s)
  • Prepare written report detailing the findings of the assessment and provide to the team contact(s)
  • Conduct follow-up assessments with team contact(s) if requested or needed

Suggested Areas to be Evaluated:

  • Unit management & command structure
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Personnel selection/retention/dismissal
  • Command & Control
  • Training & training documentation
  • Equipment usage, selection & retention
  • Use of Force
  • Operational Deployment Procedures
  • Review of past call-outs
  • After action documentation
  • Other areas requested by the host team or suggested by WSTOA

Analysis:

The WSTOA will compare teams against the established benchmarks of the Associations “Suggested SWAT Best Practices” document.


Assessment Team Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Establish assessment team composition
  • Make contract with requesting agency/team and confirm contact information
  • Provide written proposal
  • Make request for and obtain the following from the requesting agency/team:
    • Copy of Policies & Procedures
    • Copy of training documentation & records
    • Call out category percentages and sample after action reports
    • Agency / team demographics to include
      • Type of agency (Federal/State/City), type of team, agency/team  structure (full-time/part time), political environment, team staffing level, agency & team organizational chart, team history & milestone, and command structure
  • Provide host agency with Self-Assessment Review reports
    • Team member questionnaire
    • Self-Assessment Checklist
    • Organization and Structure Checklist
    • Policy Checklist
    • Training Checklist
    • TEMS Checklist
    • Negotiations Checklist
    • Equipment Checklist
  • Scheduling of the assessment visit(s) and finalization of logistical requirements
  • Travel to host agency / on-site assessment
  • Compile on-site documentation to include photos, recordings and any thing else identified during the visit, if necessary
  • Conduct out-brief with the host agency/team contact(s) and provide date of assessment completion
  • Prepare and return written assessment
  • Review assessment with WSTOA Board and District Member representatives

Teams WSTOA Has Provided the Assessment Service To:

  • Chehalis SWAT
  • Yakima SWAT Team
  • Valley SWAT Team
  • Moses Lake Regional TRT
  • Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team
  • Tri-City Regional SWAT Team

For more information or to schedule a SWAT Team Assessment, please contact Wayne DuBois at wdubois@CI.RICHLAND.WA.US