SWAT
Government & Politics abbreviation · Police
| Stands for | Special weapons and tactics |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
SWAT stands for Special weapons and tactics, a police abbreviation.
Specially trained and equipped police unit that handles high-risk situations such as hostage incidents, barricaded suspects, active shooters and dangerous warrant service. SWAT officers use rifles, armored vehicles and breaching tools.
Example: SWAT surrounded the house after the suspect barricaded himself inside with a rifle.
Usage notes
The Los Angeles Police Department formed one of the first SWAT teams in the late 1960s; inspector Daryl Gates reportedly wanted the name "Special Weapons Attack Team" before superiors objected. The expansion of SWAT raids for routine drug warrants has drawn criticism. "Swatting," making hoax emergency calls to send armed police to someone's home, has caused deaths and is prosecuted as a crime.
Related abbreviations
More police abbreviations
- ROR – Released on own recognizance
- RTC – Road traffic collision
- SFST – Standardized field sobriety tests
- SIO – Senior investigating officer
- SO – Sheriff's office
- SRO – School resource officer
- TASER – Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle
- TWOC – Taking without owner's consent
- UC – Undercover officer
- UCR – Uniform Crime Reporting
- UNSUB – Unknown subject
- UOF – Use of force