Tacoma SWAT
In February 1983, Tacoma Police Patrol Officers attempted to apprehend a barricaded, armed subject with documented mental health issues. Officers forced their way into the home in the hope of capturing the subject by surprise. During the attempt, Patrol Officer Michael Justice was shot by the shotgun-wielding subject. Officer Justice survived the assault, but it was the third incident in less than fifteen years wherein a Tacoma Police officer was shot or killed while trying to apprehend a violent subject. The incident punctuated the need for the department to develop a team of specially trained officers who could be called upon whenever the capabilities of primary call responders or investigators, was exceeded. In 1984, the Tacoma Police Departments' first tactical team was developed, originally called the "Special Operations Team," which consisted of a commander, an assistant commander, eight entry operators, four marksmen, and four negotiators. It was not until a few years later that the team was called the Special Weapon and Tactics Team.
Members of the newly formed team trained extensively for one year before becoming fully operational. About one year later, the team had a full-time, five-operator unit called the "Special Operations Section" (SOS). This unit evolved into the "Upper Tacoma Task Force", then to the "Crack House Abatement Team" (CHAT) as it grew in size to about eight operators, a non-SWAT narcotics detective, and a deputy prosecutor. CHAT became part of Special Investigations and eventually dissolved of its exclusive SWAT personnel status. The SWAT Team grew in personnel, equipment and vehicles as it prepared for the 1990 Goodwill Games. Over the years it has expanded to its current elements and size of thirty-two members. Team members became well-versed in the use specialty equipment and the employment of non-traditional tactics designed to peacefully resolve conflicts. The team was very successful, but along with that success came more demands for service. The Tacoma Police SWAT team was used heavily for warrant services, street gang suppression, dignitary protection, site security, and the apprehension of violent, heavily armed and/or barricaded subjects.
The operators in the teams' Entry, Marksman/Observer, Crisis Negotiator and Command Post elements are highly-motivated and extremely dedicated to the profession. Many of the Tacoma SWAT Teams' operators are certified instructors in firearms, high-angle rescue techniques, defensive tactics, explosive breaching techniques, less-lethal tactics and hostage negotiations, whose expertise has been sought after by tactical teams nationwide.
If one were ever to see the team's logo, they would notice the initials "WFL" followed by the numbers "061". These markings represent the late operator Officer William Francis Lowry and his badge number. "Billy" was a well-respected team member and WSTOA instructor. He was mortally wounded while engaging an armed and barricaded hostage-taker in August 1997. In the twenty-six years of the team's existence, he is the only member of the team lost during a tactical operation. Gone, but never forgotten, all Tacoma SWAT Team members proudly wear the markings "WFL061" on their uniforms as a reminder of Billy's contribution to our team, the tactical community, and his ultimate sacrifice.
