SWAT has gotten a bad name over the last few years in some segments of law enforcement. With nicknames such as the "hut-hut boys" to "prima donnas in black," some rank and file officers as well as police supervisors seem to hold a grudge against police tactical teams. Some of this may be warranted based on ego and the personalities involved. My experience, however, is a lot of this comes from people that once tried to get on SWAT and couldn't or those who knew they never could make it. New wave journalists (writers with "issues") such as Peter Kraska and his accusations that we are "militarizing Mayberry," to James Bovard ("Flash. Bang. You're Dead," Playboy) to Radley Balko's recent "Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Raids in America" from the CATO Institute, these attitudes and articles have ignored the valuable contribution that police tactical teams have made to our communities and the police business since their formation. We can and should learn from SWAT. The following are some areas that patrol officers and supervisors can learn from special weapons and tactics teams.

Training

Police tactical teams live and die by their training. By and large, SWAT training tends to be more dynamic and realistic (read: harder) than standard line officer training. We can and should learn from this. Performance in an actual situation is directly related to the quantity and quality of training. The more dynamic the training and the more that this training is based on skills that can actually be performed under stress, the better. In my opinion, training for patrol officers and detectives should be more frequent and more realistic. Many departments have strayed from training programs that truly challenge their people because of the whiners and complainers. For instance, if a program is too physical and a few minor injuries result, management oftentimes will ask trainers to back down intensity levels. I can say that my agency does not do this and understands the importance of dynamic training. An agency near us is completely opposite, with a patrol officer that works the streets every day, but has a handicapped placard in his own vehicle. Line officers enjoy and benefit from intense and realistic training.