A ‘Special’ Look Inside FCPD’S SWAT Team

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Fairfax County, VA— The FCPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of our Special Operations Division has been handling high-risk and critical incidents for nearly 50 years. In 1975, in response to the high-profile relocation of the Exxon Headquarters to Fairfax, the FCPD created a part-time SWAT team to ensure the County was equipped to handle all dangers that may arise. Since then, SWAT has grown to a full-time team with supplemental support and has been instrumental in upholding public safety and supporting the overall mission of the Fairfax County Police Department.

The mission of the SWAT team is to provide a highly trained and specialized response to urgent situations that require a tactical resolution. The team is trained to handle hostage/barricade situations, high-risk warrant services, and active violence incidents that pose a threat to public safety. Their primary objective is to protect lives, minimize property damage, and bring about a safe resolution.

Most recently, our SWAT team was deployed to handle a 21-hour barricade call in Culmore. A 21-year-old man barricaded himself inside an apartment armed with a knife after assaulting two roommates. SWAT worked tirelessly with negotiators to resolve the situation. The subject was taken into custody after climbing down from the roof of his apartment with the assistance of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

WHO ARE WE?

The SWAT team is comprised of 13 full-time operators and 25 supplemental operators. These operators have undergone extensive and rigorous training that tested each prospective operator’s physical capabilities, shooting proficiency, decision-making, teamwork, and overall knowledge of the law and policing.

The SWAT team operators are assigned as snipers, drone/robot operators, paramedics, EMTs, and breachers. Each position plays an important role in contributing to the overall success of each mission.

WHAT WE DO?

Year-to-date, the SWAT Team has been activated 73 times. Their missions include search warrants, barricades, VIP details, open field searches, and reaction teams in critical incidents. SWAT also assists other jurisdictions with training and incident response.

FCPD’s SWAT team remains one of the top teams in Virginia and is only one of two full-time units in the Northern Virginia region. SWAT members have received numerous awards and recognition across the region.

Are you interested in making a difference and becoming a SWAT Operator? Start your FCPD career here. For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.