It is the responsibility of the SWAT supervisor or the Mobile Command One supervisor (whoever arrives first), or their designee, to coordinate with the Patrol Supervisor the location of the SWAT Field Command Post area.
When selecting the SWAT Field Command Post area, the area should be:
- Out of sight of the perpetrator
- Close enough to be practical
- Upwind from the incident site
- Large enough to accommodate parking for 20 vehicles (including large specialty vehicles such as Mobile Command One, SWAT Negotiators van, SWAT Equipment van, the Bomb Squad truck and TCV) as well as a separate area large enough to accommodate the staging and deployment of 50 SWAT personnel within that secured area.
Remember: When selecting a SWAT Field Command Post area it is best to select a larger area than may be needed and scale it back, rather than an area which is too small.
These areas shall be cordoned off and secured with green Tactical Staging Area scene tape and blue Command Post scene tape. The Tactical Command Post Area will have a designated point of entry to the tactical area. All tactical and Bomb Squad personnel shall enter and exit the scene at the designated point of entry, sign in with logistics, and wait for assignment within the confines of the Tactical Staging Area, designated with the green Staging Area scene tape.
Police personnel not assigned in some capacity to SWAT (Command, Tactical, Negotiations, or Mobile Command One) or Bomb Squad shall not enter the Command Post area or Mobile Command One without receiving entry from the Tactical Commander or their designee.
Blue Command Post Scene Tape:
Mobile Command One personnel will maintain rolls of blue Command Post scene tape. The blue tape will be placed around the designated area around the Tactical Command Post portion(s) of the scene that will accommodate Mobile Command One and the SWAT Negotiators vehicle. Only SWAT and Bomb Squad personnel will be allowed to cross the blue tape. Blue tape usage will be at the discretion of SWAT Command Staff or Mobile Command One personnel. Once the Operation 100 is complete, Mobile Command One personnel will remove the blue tape.
Green Tactical Staging Area Scene Tape:
Mobile Command One personnel will maintain rolls of green Staging Area scene tape. The green tape will be placed around the designated Tactical Staging Area within the Tactical Command Post portion(s) of the scene. The Staging Area should be large enough to accommodate the staging and deployment of 50 SWAT and Bomb Squad personnel. Only SWAT and Bomb Squad personnel shall be allowed to cross the green tape. Green tape usage will be at the discretion of SWAT Command Staff or Mobile Command One personnel. Once the Operation 100 is complete, Mobile Command One personnel will remove the green tape.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Operation 100: An Operation 100 is a SWAT callout where on or off-duty SWAT Tactical, Negotiators, and Tech Team members respond to a hostile event, such as an active shooter or a barricaded suspect, which exceeds the capabilities of traditional law enforcement first responders and investigators.
- Special Weapons and Tactics Team: A specialized police unit trained and equipped to handle high-risk situations beyond the scope of regular patrol, such as armed barricades, hostage rescues, and high-risk warrant service.