Can women join SWAT?

[Eddo36]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sw...0,5852212.story

 

sure they can. Just ease down the rigorous training a bit, simple

[walkerguy]

yes

 

are u a sexist?

[Gorth]

Why do I find myself humming the tune from "Police Academy"...

 

I am not sure lowering physical standards is such a hot idea. It depends on how important physique is for their particular line of work I suppose. Is it that essential?

[Sand]

I don't see why they need to tone down the physical aspect of the job, but I don't see why a woman couldn't do the work.

[Walsingham]

We have women doing combat roles in the Army. If they can do that, which is substantially more physical, then they can do SWAT. The question of different standards is moot. We have different standrads for different ages, for example. Tough jobs need to be smart about who they recruit not just exacting.

 

The real question about SWAT is the ridiculous increase in the number of SWAT units in the USA over the last few years. Even one horse towns now have a SWAT team. I've heard cops themselves saying that in small departments it is divisive, and skews the culture of policing towards violence.

[Eddo36]

History of LAPD SWAT. LA SWAT has been all male ever since it's 60-70 yr history. Oh sure women can apply anytime. Just that none ever pass qualification, not because they were women, but because of things they can't do since they were women. Get it?

Edited March 19, 2008 by Eddo36

[Sand]

What kinds of things. Be specific.

[astr0creep]

History of LAPD SWAT. LA SWAT has been all male ever since it's 60-70 yr history. Oh sure women can apply anytime. Just that none ever pass qualification, not because they were women, but because of things they can't do since they were women. Get it?

 

You mean SWAT doesn't have chest plates in their vests for women? Those kinds of things?

[Nick_i_am]

How many women have actually tried to join a SWAT team?

[samm]

they don't have normal toilets...

[Gfted1]

Wow, whats so hard to figure out? Like the military, they will have to reduce the physical requirements so women can pass the physical tests. Did anyone bother reading the article, its like the first paragraph on the second page?

[walkerguy]

History of LAPD SWAT. LA SWAT has been all male ever since it's 60-70 yr history. Oh sure women can apply anytime. Just that none ever pass qualification, not because they were women, but because of things they can't do since they were women. Get it?

 

The report comes to light at a time of heightened attention on SWAT, which last month saw the first officer in its 40-year history killed in the line of duty and another badly wounded when they stormed the house of a mentally ill man who had barricaded himself after killing three family members.

 

Born out of the 1965 Watts riots and formalized as a unit in 1971, SWAT has been at the center of some of the LAPD's most violent and sensational encounters.

 

This says the LA SWAT has been around for only 40 years.

[Eddo36]

Yeah since 1 button typos are a big deal.

[alanschu]

I'd be skeptical of the chances of a woman surviving in SWAT even if she qualified by the normal standards.

 

 

Though I guess if the idea that they feel additional women on the SWAT team would diversify the skill set of the SWAT teams would outweigh the current physical qualifications, then it would make sense.

 

I'm not qualified to state whether or not they are.

[walkerguy]

nevermind

Edited March 19, 2008 by walkerguy

[Eddo36]

They can survive. Just more cases of mental trauma.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/19/women.veterans/index.html

 

front topic of CNN as of this moment

[walkerguy]

alanschu: Whos got qualifications that can help in determining successful strategies for an inefficient SWAT team to improve? We need takers!! I think if women can be successful soldiers, they can be SWAT. Theres a whole US all-female Blackhawk helicopter group in Iraq right now, so I think women can handle riots and hostages.

[walkerguy]

Yeah since 1 button typos are a big deal.

 

60-70 instead of 40 is not a typo

its misinformation or bad mistake

 

(such as thinking of your grandparents age while typing about SWAT teams)

 

Sorry, one thing for sure. Its not one button mistake, its 4 extra incorrect numerals or symbols (6,0,7,-).

 

* * *

 

We've got one thing in common though, Eddo. CNN freaks.

 

There was a Doonsbury comic where a female soldier was sexually assaulted. "I was sexually assaulted for my country? Wheres my purple heart?" She recieves a valentines day purple candy heart.

 

But thats terrible to place on top of having a soldier's duties, to be harrassed or assaulted...

Edited March 19, 2008 by walkerguy

[Azure79]

I don't think physical standards should be lowered if they are the necessary requirements to do the job. If a woman can pass the same physical requirements that men are required to take, she should be allowed to join. Anything less would put the team in danger methinks.

 

Shouldn't a SWAT team going into a potentially hazardous situation be confident that each team member possesses the physical strength and endurance to overcome any environmental or human obstacle that presents itself? Whether that might be subduing an unarmed individual or scaling a wall or running up 25 flights of stairs to then subdue a fleeing suspect, the team should be confident that all members can do whatever the job requires. If a woman shows that she can, then she should be allowed to join. Standards should not be lowered.

 

If SWAT teams are using excessive force and tactics, I don't think sticking some women on the team for their communication and negotiation skills is necessarily the answer. Aren't there specially trained police negotiators for that kind of job? Do they have to be on a SWAT team to perform those duties?

 

Maybe they should review the SWAT deployment process instead of lowering standards. Just be reading the article, it seems like SWAT teams decide on their own negotiation and entry/rescue/suppression tactics. Maybe delegating negotiation tactics to other specialized groups and having SWAT go in when all else fails might be better

 

I know nothing about SWAT or police procedure. Just my thoughts

[Walsingham]

Now that Im goinbg through training I have a slightly different perspective. the physical standard for women are basically the minimum possible. The standards for men are basically just an added margin because we ought to be able to.

 

As for women not being goood enough, my last serious girlfriend was a woman, ex-Army and a sometime professional bodyguard. I dare say she'd whup most of you nervous nellies hands down. I met a female captain teh other day who runs the toughest all terrain marathons in the world. All this tosh about women not being incapable is pure bushwah.

[samm]

my last serious girlfriend was a woman

O rly?

 

But seriously:

and a sometime professional bodyguard. I dare say she'd whup most of you nervous nellies hands down.

Sounds familiar.

All this tosh about women not being incapable is pure bushwah.

You sure that there isn't an "in-" too much?

[Eddo36]

Haha well look who gets to plays sub a lot

[Walsingham]

my last serious girlfriend was a woman

O rly?

 

But seriously:

and a sometime professional bodyguard. I dare say she'd whup most of you nervous nellies hands down.

Sounds familiar.

All this tosh about women not being incapable is pure bushwah.

You sure that there isn't an "in-" too much?

 

 

[Lyric Suite]

We have women doing combat roles in the Army.

 

That's because standards have been dropped in the military as well.

[walkerguy]

what nation's military?