Graduates Represent 14 Different Law Enforcement Agencies Across New York State

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services today announced 20 law enforcement officers recently achieved their Basic SWAT Operator designation following their successful completion of a four-week SWAT Operator course at the State Preparedness Training Center. The course, created in partnership with the State Division of Criminal Justice Services, trains law enforcement officers to become SWAT (special weapons and tactics) operators. SWAT operators, also known as tactical team members, respond to situations including active shooter incidents, the serving of high-risk warrants, and other dangerous, complex events. The Division has delivered the course 12 times at the State Preparedness Training Center since 2016 and more than 250 law enforcement officers have completed the training

“These graduates join an elite group of law enforcement officers statewide who play a critical role in responding to some of the most difficult incidents encountered by law enforcement,” said Patrick Murphy, Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “I extend my sincere congratulations to all of the graduates and thank them for their service to the citizens of New York State.”

State Division of Criminal Justice Services Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Green said, "Law enforcement officers encounter a wide range of circumstances over the course of their work, putting themselves directly in harm's way to protect the public. The graduates of the SWAT Operator course exemplify the courage, bravery, strength and intellect necessary to respond to high-risk incidents, making New York safer for all. I congratulate them on this phenomenal achievement."

The SWAT Operator course trains selected police officers in the tactics, techniques and procedures required to resolve special police emergencies which require advanced skill sets above and beyond normal police patrol response. Officers are trained in a variety of areas including team drills involving physical and mental stress, tourniquet application drills, and pistol and carbine skills. For example, operators must meet DCJS’ 67 mandated training objectives covering a wide range of shooting drills. In this training, each operator had to shoot approximately 1,000 rounds using a handgun and 1,500 rounds of carbine ammunition in a variety of scenarios including shooting on the move, weapons malfunction drills, transition drills, simulated room entries with shoot and no-shoot targets, shooting while wearing a gas mask, and others.
 

The graduates represent 14 different law enforcement agencies from across New York State: 

• Binghamton Police Department
• Buffalo Police Department
• Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office
• Elmira Police Department
• Greece Police Department
• Ithaca Police Department
• Madison County Sheriff’s Office
• Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
• North Tonawanda Police Department
• Oneida County Sheriff’s Office
• Rome Police Department
• Schenectady Police Department
• Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office
• Tonawanda (City) Police Department

DHSES has a long history of supporting the state’s tactical teams through the Division’s Tactical Team Targeted Grant Program. This funding supports New York State's tactical teams and provides them with the adequate skills and capabilities to provide a safe and successful response to high-risk incidents, including active shooter events and other counterterrorism missions. Since 2013, DHSES has allocated over $12.6 million dollars in federal homeland security funding to support 49 local, and county tactical teams across the state.  Funding must directly align to the team's attainment/sustainment of the New York State accreditation standards for tactical teams, which includes supporting the necessary equipment, planning and training costs required to meet the rigorous standards.

About the State Preparedness Training Center

The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), operated by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, affords state, local, and federal agencies a complex of training venues to conduct the entire spectrum of training. From classroom lectures and discussions to reality- and high-performance scenario-based training, the SPTC offers opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training. The SPTC offers agencies realistic training environments such as a simulated city, residential housing complex, collapsed building rubble pile, woodland structures and other settings. Now in its 13th year of operation, the SPTC annually trains thousands of New York’s first responders, including law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), and emergency management personnel, in a variety of areas including response to active shooter events, emergency vehicle operations, EMS special situations, and patrol officer survival.

About DHSES

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

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