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TACTICAL RESPONSE TEAM / S.W.A.T.
The Oakdale Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was formed in 1997 after Oakdale was faced with a hostage incident at a local bank. Predicting a future need for such a resource, the Police Administration at that time with the permission of the Oakdale City Council, formed a special response team for just those type of incidents. The original equipment consisted of handguns, shotguns and surplus military items; such as helmets and camouflage uniforms. Training occurred one day a month. The original SWAT vehicle, an ambulance donated by Oak Valley Ambulance, was converted to fill the needs of SWAT.
The current SWAT Team is comprised of one Tactical Commander, one Team Leader, one Assistant Team Leader, seven police officers and one firefighter/paramedic from the Oakdale City Fire Department. The SWAT Team also works closely with a tactical dispatcher and members of the department’s newly formed Crisis Response Team. The SWAT Team is a part-time team, meaning that officers assigned to the Team take on the duties and training requirements of SWAT Team members in addition to the duties of their regular assignment whether they are patrol officers, detectives, school resource officers or assigned to traffic enforcement.
The SWAT Team trains twice monthly, for a total of twenty hours per month, in many different disciplines and is on call twenty-four hours a day. The team members have all undergone intensive, specialized training, including a rigorous bi-annual physical fitness qualification, which also tests the officer’s marksmanship. Each officer is issued personal weapons and equipment. The team is equipped with the newest weaponry and technology including; assault rifles, diversionary devices, less lethal weapons and a ballistic shield which enables the team to enter hazardous situations without jeopardizing team safety.
SWAT Disciplines
Some of the SWAT Team disciplines include:
- Critical Decision Making
- Communication Skills
- Mental and Physical Disciplines
- Rappelling
- Special Weapons
- Hostage Rescue
- Indoor Search Techniques and Philosophy
- Outdoor Search Techniques and Philosophy
- Entry Techniques and Philosophy
- Active Shooter
- Less Lethal
- Weapon Retention
- Officer Rescue
- Vehicle/Bus Assaults
Purpose
The Oakdale Police Department’s SWAT Team is a support resource within the police department. The team is also available to any local, regional, state or federal law enforcement agency upon request.
The primary objective of the Oakdale Police Department’s SWAT Team is to solve problems efficiently and effectively, using whatever means are available, whatever force is reasonable and necessary, with minimal risk to all involved.
The following are examples of situations that, by their potentially violent and/or specialized nature, indicate the recommendation of SWAT Team mobilization.
- Armed suspect(s) with hostages.
- Rescue of hostage(s), trapped, or isolated officers.
- Barricaded gunman or suspected barricaded gunman.
- Use of Chemical agents.
- Service of arrest warrants on violent or potentially violent suspect(s).
- Service of search warrants on violent or potentially violent suspect(s) and their residences.
- Service of search warrants for narcotics violators
- Arrest of violent or potentially violent suspect(s)
- Protection of police and firefighter personnel or equipment involved in the suppression of civil disorder.
- Riot or potential riot.
- Any situation that requires or potentially requires the use of the SWAT Team’s specialized training, tactics and equipment.
The Oakdale Police Department’s SWAT Team is committed to the philosophy that SWAT is a life saving resource, no matter the situation.
Anyone interested in receiving a presentation regarding Oakdale Police Department’s SWAT Team (equipment used, demonstrations, etc.) should contact Lt. Vernon Gladney at (209) 845-3529 or Master Officer Ben Savage at (209) 845-3319.
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The Oakdale Police Department has had a successful Police Canine Program in years past. However, the program lapsed for a time due to retirement of police service dogs. Police Canines save police departments hundreds of man-hours per year because of the Canine’s ability to search quicker and more efficiently than a human. This is attributed to the Canine’s size, speed, and senses. Because of their abilities, Police Canines make our jobs safer. For these reasons, the Police Canine Program was reinstated and has progressed into a full time detail since 2005.
Sgt. Eggener, a past Canine Handler with several years of experience, oversees the Police Canine program.
The department had a Patrol Canine (Cyto), assigned to Officer Carrillo. The Patrol Canine, a German Shepherd, is trained in obedience, tracking, article searching, search and apprehension. The Canine is primarily used to find people and things. The Canine Handler and Canine have to be certified by passing a P.O.S.T. test to work the street. The Canine Handler and Canine train several hours a month in preparation to maintain and refine their skills and to assist with all facets of the department in tracking and searches.
Narcotics Canine Shadow, a Labrador, was assigned to Detective Taylor and is trained to locate illegal narcotics such as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroine. The Handler and Canine have received several hours of training in searching for illegal narcotics and have to be certified by passing a P.O.S.T. test to be used. The Handler and Canine devote several hours per month to refine their skills.
The Canine Handlers are with their Canine Partners, at home and at work, and form a strong bond with one another. Because of the dedication to the program and strong bond formed between the Canine Handler and Canine, being a Canine Handler requires total commitment both on and off duty.
Recently, both canine's have retired and the program has been put on hold. For information or questions regarding the canine program, please contact Sgt. Eggener at (209) 847-2231
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