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 Jeff Selleg at Selleg.J@portseattle.org