Swat
In January 2013, the San Ramon Police Department SWAT Team joined forces with the Walnut Creek and Martinez police department to form a new, multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team known as the Central County SWAT Team. The BART and Pleasant Hill Police Departments joined in 2015.
The mission of the Central County SWAT Team is to safely resolve critical incidents. The team is composed of law enforcement officers from each of the three participating agencies, which are specifically trained and equipped to work as a coordinated team to resolve critical incidents that are so hazardous, complex, or unusual that they may exceed the capabilities of first responders or investigative units. Critical incidents include, but are not limited to, hostage taking, barricaded suspects, snipers, terrorist acts and other high risk incidents. The Central County SWAT Team may also be used to serve high risk search and arrest warrants where public and officer safety issues warrant the use of such a unit. The Central County SWAT Team consists of a Tactical Unit, Crisis Negotiations Unit, Tactical Dispatch Unit, and a Tactical Command.
The Tactical Unit consists of an Entry Team and a Sniper Team. The role of the Entry Team includes containment, emergency action, and deliberate action during a critical incident or planned event. The role of the Sniper Team is to provide observation, intelligence and precision marksmanship in tactical situations. Negotiators assigned to the Crisis Negotiations Unit are specifically trained in hostage negotiations, intelligence gathering, and conflict management. Negotiation is a tactic that may be used when appropriate to resolve, or assist in resolving, a crisis situation. The Tactical Dispatch Unit supports the team command structure through the accurate and timely documentation and communication of events during high-risk operations.
Central County Swat Team members serve on the team as a collateral duty that is performed in addition to their regular assignment. Team members are required to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.