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SWAT (Regina)

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Special Weapons and Tactics
Active1975 - present
CountryCanada
AgencyRegina Police Service
TypePolice tactical unit
Operations jurisdictionRegina, Saskatchewan
Part ofUnder Support Services Division
HeadquartersRegina, Saskatchewan
AbbreviationSWAT
Structure
Officers24
Website
Official website

The SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team is a Canadian Police tactical unit (PTU) operating under the Regina Police Service (RPS)'s Support Services Division. The unit is one of the few PTUs in Canadian law enforcement that uses the SWAT name.[a]

History

[edit]

SWAT was established in 1975 with five two-man teams formed in 1976.[2] The teams were sent to Bozeman, Montana for training.[2] SWAT became officially operational by 1979.[3]

In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) started to provide training assistance to the RPS, given that the LAPD was the first police force in the US to raise a SWAT unit.[4] The links between the RPS and the LAPD are strong that RPS SWAT officers went to LA to pay respects to Randal David Simmons, who was the LAPD SWAT officer to be killed in the line of duty.[4][5]

In May 31, 1991, Constable Angela McDougall was the first female officer recruited to the unit.[6][4][b] At the time of her recruitment, there was not a lot of female officers interested to try out SWAT selection process.[7]

In 1996, the RPS SWAT unit has 16 officers.[4]

In 2005, SWAT was relocated to another building acquired by the RPS, which was formerly used as a former fire dispatch building used by the Regina Fire & Protective Services to provide new space.[8] The RPS hosted a SWAT school session from June 2 to June 6, 2008 where 68 candidates from various Canadian law enforcement agencies are sent to Regina for training under current and former LAPD SWAT officers.[9]

In 2009, Regina-based paramedics worked with SWAT to create the Tactical emergency medical services under the then-Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region in order to ensure paramedics can safely conduct medical work on anyone who needs medical assistance, but are under fire.[10]

By 2011, the RPS SWAT unit has 22 officers.[4]

On December 19, 2013, the RPS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)'s F Division made an agreement that would allow the Division to loan their Tactical Armoured Vehicle (TAV) to SWAT for training.[11] The agreement was done with the assistance of Bob Gallegos, a law enforcement and ex-LAPD SWAT officer.[12] The RPS announced that all SWAT officers need to complete TAV Operator training courses in order to officially use the TAV in situations where cover is needed.[13]

On December 12, 2017, the SWAT unit worked with the Crisis Negotiator Team, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) to train in a simulated attack on a post-secondary institute.[14]

By 2016, the RPS SWAT unit has 20 officers.[15]

On December 20, 2017, the RPS' budget reported a CAD$750,000 expenditure to upgrade aging police equipment, including the potential purchase of a new tactical rescue vehicle (TRV) with enhanced body armour.[16] Then RPS chief Evan Bray justified this due to concerns raised that borrowing the RCMP's TAV is not always available and the RPS has to pay for costs in gas and maintenance in the face of criticism on police militarization.[16] By January 29, 2018, it's reported that CAD$5 million from the budget of CAD$78 million was set aside to plan for the purchase of a TRV.[17] In July 2018, it was reported that the Terradyne Armored Vehicles Gurkha was purchased.[18]

In May 2018, SWAT has 24 officers in its ranks.[19]

On January 15, 2019, SWAT brought their TRV into service, known as Rescue 1.[3]

In 2020, SWAT assisted the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) by training MJPS Staff Sergeant Taylor Elder and Constable Rodney Zoerb when they traveled to Regina.[20] Both officers were selected in 2019 prior to being sent to Regina.[21] This eventually led to the MJPS creating the Tactical Response Team (TRT).[20]

In 2023, RPS Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies announced that the RPS will make SWAT into a full-time unit instead of having it part-time by 2024.[4] She said that this status would allow them to be constantly ready when a situation requires their immediate presence.[4]

On May 19, 2024, the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) was called in to investigate the actions of SWAT in an undisclosed incident.[22]

Known Operations

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On February 7, 1979, a sniper opened fire on the city streets of Regina less than a block away from the RPS (then known as Regina Police Department) Headquarter building, which took place eight hours after the Communication Centre went operational.[23] SWAT was deployed and apprehended the sniper.[23]

On September 23, 2008, SWAT was called in due to a 911 call made at Luther College High School where an expelled student reportedly made threats to shoot a pastor during mass.[24] The firearm seized during the arrest was a pellet pistol.[25]

On April 2009, SWAT was deployed in the aftermath of a shooting incident at 1073 Garnet St. in a case of mistaken identity, which was attributed to the Native Syndicate Killers.[26]

In 2014, Balfour Collegiate was evacuated while SWAT responded to reports that a student flashed a gun in public, which was later confirmed to be an air gun.[27]

On May 18, 2019, SWAT was deployed to assist police in Moose Jaw in a manhunt operation with patrol and K-9 officers.[28]

On April 13, 2021, SWAT arrested a 40-year old man in Regina for allegedly manufacturing firearms in his residence.[29]

On August 11, 2022, SWAT worked alongside RCMP ERTs in executing search warrants for alleged illegal firearms and drugs.[30]

Organization

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SWAT is currently made up of 24 officers, who have regular, full-time duties in other parts of the RPS.[4][31] They are only called in when firearms are reported to be involved.[32]

Training

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According to the RPS, SWAT is required to do training days per month with the whole team doing it on Day one with sniper and rappelling training on Day two.[33] A five-day training block is conducted every three months.[33] All SWAT officers need to qualify every month with their issued weapons while SWAT officers in specialist units must be able to stay qualified on a yearly basis.[19] SWAT officers in counter-sniper duties must be able to fire five rounds into a one-inch circle at 100 yards.[34]

The unit does joint training with other PTUs, such as the MJPS's TRT.[21]

Duties

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SWAT is tasked to work with other RPS units in resolving a situation, such as armed/barricaded suspects, hostage situations, prisoner transport, active shooters and high-risk warrants.[35][19]

The unit is also called in for witness and VIP protection when required.[35]

Gear

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Weapons

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SWAT is armed with the Glock 22 pistol, Colt C8 carbine and the Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun.[15]

Tasers[36][37] and tear gas grenades are used by SWAT as non-lethal weapons.[38]

Vehicles

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The unit has their armored TRV used for incidents involving firearms.[34]

Equipment

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Since January 2021, SWAT has access to drones for conducting reconnaissance.[39]

Notes

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  1. ^ According to research conducted by Sam Alvaro for a Carleton University thesis, less than 2% of Canadian police department adopt the SWAT name. The majority of police tactical units in other departments use names such as Emergency Response Team, Emergency Response Unit, Emergency Task Force, Emergency Services Unit and Groupe d'intervention (English: Intervention Group).[1]
  2. ^ According to the RPS, Cst. McDougall was recruited into SWAT in January 1992.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Sam Alvaro (January 2000). "TACTICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CANADA: AN EXPLORATORY SURVEY OF CANADIAN POLICE AGENCIES" (PDF). Carleton University. p. 72.
  2. ^ a b "Historic Timeline". Regina Police Service. Retrieved 2025-06-20. The... unit came into being in 1975 and developed into two five-man teams in 1976. The teams received intensive training at Bozeman, Montana in how to cope with critical and potentially dangerous situations.
  3. ^ a b "Historic Timeline". Regina Police Service. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Brandon Harder (2023-12-29). "Regina police to move to full-time 'Tactical Support' team in 2024". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  5. ^ "Police Officer Randal David Simmons". Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  6. ^ "Just one of the guys". Regina Leader-Post. 1991-05-31. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  7. ^ a b "Historic Timeline". Regina Police Service. Retrieved 2025-06-20. Angela McDougall becomes the first female to qualify as a member of the SWAT team, making her Canada's first female SWAT member.
  8. ^ "Regina Police Service Annual Report 2005" (PDF). Regina Police Service. p. 8.
  9. ^ "Regina Police Service Annual Report 2008" (PDF). Regina Police Service. p. 4.
  10. ^ Pamela Cowan (2017-06-02). "The ever-changing world of paramedics — from homes and hospitals to hot zones". Regina Leader Post. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  11. ^ "TAV Training". Regina Police Service. 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  12. ^ Aaron Stuckel (2013-12-20). "Regina police training on new armoured vehicle". Prince Albert Now. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  13. ^ "Regina Police Service Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Regina Police Service. p. 19.
  14. ^ "Sask Polytech to the rescue". Saskatchewan Polytechnic. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  15. ^ a b Brian Fitzpatrick (2016-08-20). "Just another tool? Police getting set to roll out use of semi-automatic carbine rifles". Regina Leaderpost. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  16. ^ a b "Regina Police potentially eyeing purchase of armoured rescue vehicle". Global News. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  17. ^ "Regina police budget includes armoured vehicle purchase". CBC News. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  18. ^ Lisa Schick (2018-07-02). "Regina police await new tactical vehicle this fall". 980 CJME. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  19. ^ a b c Jennifer Ackerman. "Regina Police Service releases central operations stats for 2018". Regina Leader Post. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  20. ^ a b Katherine Ludwig (2022-08-11). "The Moose Jaw Police Service established their very first TAC unit". Discover Moose Jaw. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  21. ^ a b Jason G. Antonio (2025-01-09). "MJPS's tactical unit used for 'highly volatile' situations". Moose Jaw Today. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  22. ^ David Prisciak (2024-05-19). "Sask. police watchdog called in following 'serious incident' involving Regina SWAT". CTV News. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  23. ^ a b "Historic Timeline". Regina Police Service. Retrieved 2025-06-20. The Regina Police Department (now referred to as "Regina Police Service") moved into a new facility housing the most modern information and storage retrieval facility of the day. The Communication Centre went on the air from the new station on February 6, 1979. Approximately eight hours later, less than a block away from headquarters, a sniper started firing at random into the surrounding streets. The sniper was successfully captured by the SWAT team.
  24. ^ "Hostage-taking at Regina school ends safely, former student arrested". CBC News. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  25. ^ "Luther College principal wrestled weapon from gunman". Macleans's. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  26. ^ Jane G. Pruden (2009-04-06). "Relatives say shooting a case of mistaken identity". Regina Leader Post. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  27. ^ Mark Melnychuk (2016-12-28). "The imitation game: Canada's laws around realistic air guns put police in a tough place". Regina Leader Post. Archived from the original on 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  28. ^ "Moose Jaw police get help from Regina in 'high risk situation'". CJME News. 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  29. ^ "Regina man charged with manufacturing firearms". Regina Leader Post. 2021-04-13. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  30. ^ "Regina police and RCMP tactical teams responds to searches". Regina Leader Post. 2022-08-11. Archived from the original on 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  31. ^ Brandon Harder (2022-05-31). "Regina police use of force down for 2021". Regina Leader Post.
  32. ^ "Gun investigation prompts SWAT team to descend on Regina house". CJME News. 2023-11-29.
  33. ^ a b "Regina Police Service Annual Report 2014". Regina Police Service. p. 6.
  34. ^ a b "Shot fired in Regina: Rapid SWAT response leads to arrests". Sask Today. 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  35. ^ a b Stephanie Taylor (2018-01-27). "Meth, gun violence, high-powered firearms behind increase in Regina SWAT calls, says team member". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  36. ^ Anne Kyle (2009-08-17). "Decision regarding Taser use by Saskatchewan police to come around end of 2009". Regina Leader Post. Archived from the original on 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  37. ^ "Taser used on man threatening to harm himself". Regina Leader Post. Archived from the original on 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  38. ^ Heather Polischuk (2019-07-30). "Anaquod guilty of firing shots during police standoff". Regina Leader Post. Archived from the original on 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  39. ^ Heather Polischuk (2021-07-28). "Eye in the sky: Regina Police Service using drones for various tasks". Regina Leader Post. Archived from the original on 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
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