| Abstract | This research is aimed at addressing commonly held misconceptions that exist in relation to SWAT team members, as well as identifying potential characteristics that they possess that are different from other officers. Interviews were conducted with participants who were selected from varying size police departments across the country on both full and part-time SWAT teams. The results indicate that contrary to the common belief and popular portrayal, SWAT team members self-describe themselves as critical thinkers, problem solvers, and highly motivated and dedicated people. The implications of this study are that it should serve as a starting point for educating those who do not know what SWAT is all about, as well as to help formulate new strategies for identifying, recruiting, and selecting potential team members for vacancies. From this simple beginning study, the hope is that a more in-depth study to facilitate process improvements in personnel selections can be generated. |
