Pierce County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Special Weapons and Tactics.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department

SWATSpecial Weapons and Tactics

Handle any situation beyond the capability of patrol officers to safely manage, for example:

Apprehension of barricaded subjects

High-risk warrant service

Narcotics raids

Safe recovery of hostages and others in hazardous situations

Containment, Intelligence and Negotiation

Providing tactical support to other teams and organizations in the area

General Team Duties:

“Our goal is to return normalcy to chaos.”

Sgt. Jim Heishman,PCSD SWAT

Commander

Retain their normal patrol duties

Train in entry tactics

Train in a secondary duty assignment, for example:

Marksman

Less-lethal Weapons Operator

Chemical Agent Specialist

Tactical/Field Medicine

Specialized Equipment Operator

Negotiation

Individual Duties:

Team consists of 26 members, including:

Team Commander: Sergeant Jim Heishman

3 Team Leaders:

Sergeant Russ Wilder

Detective Mike Ames

Detective Kim Pecheos

4 Negotiators

4 Counter-snipers

Entry officers with secondary duties

SWAT Team Composition:

The team trains twice a month, with one 3-day training exercise on McNeil Island once a year.

Training consists of various simulations, usage and selection of equipment and weapons, intelligence gathering, and training in emerging trends, such as school shootings and homeland security.

PCSD SWAT often trains with other teams and organizations, such as search & rescue, air services, dive teams, and bomb squads.

Training:

PCSD SWAT operates primarily in the unincorporated areas of Pierce County:

1,679 square miles

Approximately 460,000 people

PCSD SWAT is also in an agreement to provide tactical services to McChord Air Force Base and Ft. Lewis

Area of Responsibility:

“We rely on them to protect our country…and they rely on us to protect their families…”

Sgt. Jim Heishman,PCSD SWAT

Commander

There are 2 other teams in Pierce County:

Tacoma Police Department SWAT

Metro Pierce SWAT

Other Agencies:

There are 2 other teams in Pierce County:

Tacoma Police Department SWAT

Metro Pierce SWAT

Metro Pierce SWAT is a joint effort between the cities of:

LakewoodSteilacoomDupont

PuyallupFifeMiltonBonney LakeSumner

Other Agencies:

Tacoma, Metro Pierce and PCSD SWAT Teams are able to provide tactical support to each other in lengthy standoffs or major events.

Interagency Cooperation:


Both PCSD and Metro Pierce SWAT provided support to Tacoma SWAT during the shooting

and subsequent hostage situation at the Tacoma Mall on November 20th, 2005.



Both PCSD and Metro Pierce SWAT provided support to Tacoma SWAT during the shooting

and subsequent hostage situation at the Tacoma Mall on November 20th, 2005.

If a barricaded subject or hostage situation lasts for an extended period of time, area SWAT teams will be able to provide relief in a rotation, so a “fresh” team is always available if needed.


Qualifications:

Must be with the PCSD for at least 3 years

Must pass rigorous physical and mental testing

Qualifications and Hiring:

Qualifications:

Must be with the PCSD for at least 3 years

Must pass rigorous physical and mental testing

Hiring Process:

When a vacancy on the team opens:

Submit an application with letter of intent

Meet with an oral board

Stringent physical agility, written, oral and psychological testing

Job performance and background reviews

Top candidate (usually of 6-10 candidates) appointed by Sheriff

Qualifications and Hiring:

Salary:

Base pay (based on civil service pay grade):

Starts at $22.19 to $27.74 per hour, or $46,155 to $57,699

per year

Hazardous Duty pay:

2.5% of base, $1,153 to $1,442 per year

Salary and Benefits:

Benefits:

Paid Vacation:Starts at 12 days per yearUp to 30 days per year (25 years of

service)

Paid Sick Leave:Accrues at 1 day per month

Paid Holidays:Ten paid holidays per year

Two additional ‘personal’ paid holidays per year

Medical and Vision

Dental

Life Insurance

Retirement, and many others…

Salary and Benefits:

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Special Weapons and Tactics.

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