The Idaho Falls Police SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team) consists of IFPD officers and supervisors who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The unit's specially trained personnel provide tactical response to hostage situations, barricaded persons, sniper incidents, work or school place violence and high-risk search warrant entries for various cases. All of the members of the SWAT team are part-time and maintain their equipment while serving in their full-time assignments as patrol officers, detectives and police supervisors.
While the goal of every Police Officer is to save lives and de-escalate the potential for violence, there are times when a violent suspect must be prevented from killing innocent victims or bystanders. SWAT marksmen are highly trained and disciplined to make precision rifle shots at several hundred yards away. The team also utilizes 'less lethal' weapons such as the Taser, wood, foam and plastic batons, and various chemical agents, all employed to prevent the use of police firearms.
To maintain the skills necessary to handle high-risk situations, SWAT
members train rigorously on a monthly basis. Many SWAT members hold
instructor ratings in various disciplines and provide instruction to
other department members and law enforcement agencies around the state.