Hollister Police SWAT Unit

S.W.A.T.

The Hollister Police Department S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team is a highly trained unit of officers who are committed to the saving of lives in very critical and hazardous situations. 

The team was developed in 1982, after an armed suspect held off local law enforcement officers while staying barricaded in his home. Because HPD did not have a S.W.A.T. team at that time, an outside agency was called in to handle the call. The suspect surrendered approximately 12-hours later and was taken into custody unharmed. After this incident it was decided that we develop our own team of trained officers to handle similar situations in the future. This began the implementation of the Hollister Police Department's S.W.A.T. unit that is still serving our community today.

The "Team" consist of Captains, who serves as Incident and Tactical Commanders, Sergeants who hold the position of Team leaders for the Entry, Sniper, and Hostage Negotiation teams, and 11 officers and detectives who are Tactical team members, and 3 hostage negotiators. The team is equipped and trained in the use of a variety of methods for defusing the most dangerous situations facing law enforcement. Such specialized training includes the handling of hostage situations, barricaded suspects, and high risk warrant service. The S.W.A.T. Team trains monthly to develop and refine its ability to handle the many hazardous situations which may arise, and to minimize the risks faced by citizens, officers, and also criminal suspects.