SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics team and is a voluntary assignment. Officers requesting to be on the SWAT team go through a rigorous selection process and training before being assigned as a member. Not long after the decision was made to form a Schertz SWAT team, the police department put in an application for the vehicle - a former U.S. Army MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) Vehicle.
FEATUREZ
The public first got a chance to see the new vehicle when it was driven in the Fourth of July Jubilee parade.
Since the decision was made in spring to start the program the police department has worked to get all of the parts into place.
The vehicle will be used primarily by the SWAT team, but is available for a variety of uses including high water passage and mobile command post. The Schertz SWAT team
That includes certification for the team members as well as the big vehicle that will transport them and lots of training - especially at the empty house on Live Oak Road in front of the
will consist of 12 members and a negotiator and four tactical medics, who function much as combat medics in the military.
giant water tower at the top of the hill.
charge of day to day operations including training.
The city took ownership of the house when it purchased the land for water
“We are in the process of running our first SWAT class and will have all cont’d on page 28
towers and the house is now used for training purposes by the Schertz PD and, occasionally, Schertz Fire Rescue. Patrol Sergeant Thad Siwecki is the tactical commander for SWAT and in
That application was made through the Section 1033 program that authorizes the Department of Defense to transfer excess military property to local law enforcement agencies. Schertz PD got the MRAP at no cost. The application was approved in short order and the $770,000 vehicle - along with additional tires - was driven to Schertz where it was repainted and the Schertz Police Department name added to its sides. By creating its own SWAT team, the Schertz Police Department incurred a number of high cost, onetime expenses to equip all of the members. The funding for these expenditures came from seized assets and no tax dollars were used to directly support these initial costs. The chief of police is adamant that no taxpayer money will be utilized on SWAT equipment.
“It’s all about problem solving... with a peaceful solution the best solution.” Patrol Sergeant Thad Siwecki, Tactical Commander for SWAT schertzmagazine.com
OCTOBER 2014
27