SWAT Team

The El Dorado County Sheriff's S.W.A.T. team was founded in 1979; today the team consists of 12 members.

The S.W.A.T. teams primary responsibility is to save lives. The team averages 6 to 16 deployments a year. Deployments generally involve high-risk  searches, arrest warrants, and barricaded subjects. In addition to tactical deployments, the S.W.A.T. team provides tactical training for patrol deputies. Recent training included live fire at a shooting house and tactical scenarios using simulations and active shooter training.

S.W.A.T. utilizes three vehicles: a former bank armored van, a former military armored vehicle for tactical use, and a commercial van as an equipment vehicle and tactical command post.

S.W.A.T. arsenal includes Heckler & Koch sub machine guns, Colt M16 A2 rifles and M4 carbines, Remington 700 .308 counter sniper rifles, 37mm and  40mm launching platforms, and Sig Sauer and Glock handguns.

S.W.A.T. team members train an average of 15 hours per month. Each member must pass firearms and physical fitness proficiency tests to remain on the team.

SWAT supports a Crisis Negotiations Team comprises of 9 personnel.