Bellingham Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics
The Bellingham Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team has been established to provide specialized support in handling critical field operations where intense negotiations and/or special tactical deployment methods beyond the capacity of field officers appear to be necessary.
The S.W.A.T. team is a designated unit of law enforcement officers that is specifically trained and equipped to work as a coordinated team to resolve critical incidents that are so hazardous, complex, or unusual that they may exceed the capabilities of first responders or investigative units including, but not limited to: hostage taking; barricaded suspects; snipers; terrorist acts and other high-risk
incidents. As a matter of department policy, such a unit may also be used to serve high-risk warrants, both search and arrest, where public and officer safety
issues warrant the use of the unit.
The S.W.A.T. team is currently comprised of the following personnel:
- 1 team commander
- 1 team sergeant
- 14 assault personnel
- 4 snipers
- 4 crisis negotiators
- 5 designated vehicle operators
- 4 hazardous devices unit members
- 6 tactical dispatchers
The S.W.A.T. team is a part-time, voluntary assignment within the department and operators must maintain firearms proficiency and be able to complete a physical agility test twice a year in order to remain on the team. Currently the team trains once per month and has four “full-team callout” scenarios throughout the year in order to assess the team’s ability to handle various tactical problems.
As standard armament the S.W.A.T. team employs 5.56 carbines and Glock handguns, with the sniper teams recently switching to the DPMS .308 weapons system. 40mm delivery platforms are being brought online to replace the 37mm delivery platform system. A Lenco BearCat and a new tactical operations command vehicle are specialized vehicles assigned to the S.W.A.T. team and have their own personnel assigned to the maintenance and operation of those vehicles.
The S.W.A.T. team has been active in the Bellingham Police Department since the late 1970s / early 1980s and remains committed to providing quality and professional service to the department and community.
