The Jonesboro Police S.W.A.T. Unit can rapidly respond when needed

Recognizing that the presence of a highly trained, highly skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, police officers and suspects; and recognizing that a well managed team response to critical incidents usually results in successful resolution of critical incidents, it is the intent of the Jonesboro Police  Special Services Unit to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for the Jonesboro Police Department in the handling of critical incidents.

Currently, the team is comprised of 27 full-time officers.  In addition, the team has three medical doctors and five medics who are reserve police officers. 

The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T). is trained to respond to a wide variety of critical incidents which include the following:

Hostage Situations: The holding of any person(s) against their will by an armed or potentially armed suspect(s). 

Barricade Situations: The stand-off created by an armed or potentially armed suspect(s) in any location, whether fortified or not, who is refusing to comply with police demands to surrender. 

Sniper Situations: The firing upon citizens and/or police by an armed suspect, whether stationary or mobile. 

High-Risk Apprehensions: The arrest or apprehension of armed or potentially armed suspects where the likelihood or armed resistance is high. 

High-Risk Warrant Service: The service of search or arrest warrants where the warrant service involves armed or potentially armed suspects. 

Personal Protection: The security of special persons, such as VIP’s, witnesses, or suspects, based on threat or potential threat to the well being of those persons.

Special Assignments: Any assignment, approved by the Special Services Commander, based upon a high level of threat.