SWAT gets terror fight gear
U.S. grants buy airtight equipment
By Edward L. Cardenas /
The Detroit News / Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Macomb County's elite SWAT team has
become one of the first in Metro Detroit to be equipped with nearly 100 pounds
of specially designed, airtight equipment that can be used to respond to
terrorist biological or chemical attacks.
The equipment for the 27-member team, composed of officers from departments
throughout the county, was purchased with nearly $300,000 in federally grants
for developing response plans to weapons of mass destruction.
"This is an example of federal money coming back to Macomb County," said
Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel. "This team is
much more skilled to handle tactical incidents. We need to ensure our officers
are going to be protected." The
Oakland County
Sheriff's Office also has the special units.
The white chemical suits and self-contained breathing apparatuses make the
officers look and sound like Darth Vader from "Star Wars," but protect them from
any harmful chemicals or weapons that may have been discharged.
"(Drug raids) are extremely hazardous because of the possibility of
explosions and chemical releases," said Robert Leman,
Shelby Township police chief. "This clothing protects officers who go into
any situation. I believe (police) administrators strive for more training,
education and equipment to do a better job keep the public safe."
The initial concept of a SWAT
team, which stands for Special Weapons and Tactics, started in the mid-1960s in
Los Angeles to give officers more training and firepower when dealing with
criminals.
Metro Detroit police departments, starting with county sheriff's departments
and branching out from there, have had
SWAT teams for at least three decades.
For many years, Macomb County's SWAT unit and others in Metro Detroit have
responded to drug busts, high-risk traffic stops and other dangerous situations,
at least once a month on average.
But with the threat of domestic terrorism from chemical weapons and weapons
of mass destruction, SWAT units such as Macomb's are beginning to prepare for
even more grim situations and are training to respond to any attack imaginable.
According to the
National Tactics Officers Association, there are an estimated 25 units
similar to Macomb's across the country.
For most incidents, officers wear more than 60 pounds of protective gear that
includes a helmet, bullet-proof vest and special boots.
With the federal grants, members of Macomb's
SWAT team have a protective suit,
mask and breathing unit to wear when responding to biological terrorism, illegal
methamphetamine drug labs or even workplace violence and incidents where
industrial chemicals have been spilled.
"You never know what you are going to run into when you go in," said Skip
Lawver, director of the
Center for Regional and National Security at Eastern Michigan University.
"(Macomb) is ahead of the curve."
In Macomb County, one drug raid where the suits could have been used was in
the September 2003 raid on a mobile home in the Camelot Mobile Home Community in
Macomb Township, during which officers found methamphetamine, chemicals and
items for manufacturing drugs.
The most recent training exercise for the
SWAT team was held a few weeks ago
at the old Macomb County building in Mount Clemens. It was the first time
members wore their protective suits while conducting searches, firing guns and
maneuvering through tight spaces for the simulated search-and-rescue exercise.
Specialists from Pennsylvania-based National Tactics Officers Association
were contracted to provide both classroom and on-site training for the officers.
You can reach Edward L. Cardenas at (586) 468-0529 or
ecardenas@detnews.com.
What the SWAT team bought
The Macomb County SWAT team bought the following items with $295,000 in weapons
of mass destruction grants from the past three years:
* Radios and communication equipment
* Vests
* Clothing
* Air tanks and masks
* Trailers
Team composition
* 11 members from the Macomb County Sheriff's Office
* Eight members from the
Sterling Heights Police Department
* Three members from the
Chesterfield Township Police Department
* Two members each from
Mount
Clemens and
Shelby Township
* One member from the
Fraser Department of Public Safety
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