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closeSWAT team finds temporary use for vacant city building
Puyallup’s Administrative Offices Building is used for tactical training before scheduled demolition
Chris Albert
A group of armed and armored police officers camp in front of a barricaded door waiting for their signal to enter. They remain silent and watch the windows for movement, waiting to see if anyone answers.
With no reply they break down the door, splintering the frame and quickly cover the area looking for a potentially dangerous suspect.
So goes the script for Metro SWAT as they trained as they did live training last week at Puyallup’s vacant Administrative Offices Building.
Since the opening of Puyallup’s new city hall last week, the building has remained vacant, waiting for demolition.
The waiting period has been perfect timing for Metro SWAT to work on real scenario training.
“This is a real good opportunity,” said Lt. Dave McDonald, Puyallup Police information officer. “The timing worked out great with our monthly training day.”
It isn’t often they get to train in a building that not only is set to be demolished but also still has some old furniture in it to create barriers the SWAT team members may face in the field, said Lt. Jeff Westover, SWAT team leader and a member of the Fife Police Department.
On Aug. 14, Metro Swat trained extensively at the building, going through multiple scenarios with its entry team.
“We’re focusing on the tactical side of what they do,” McDonald said.
Other parts of the Metro SWAT include snipers and hostage negotiators.
The Swat unit provides support and is comprised of 10 local jurisdiction, including Puyallup, Sumner and Bonney Lake. They train throughout the year, usually using vacant buildings like schools during the summer or houses that have yet to be purchased. In those cases they have to be careful not to damage the building and can’t necessarily go all out during their exercises.
But because the Puyallup building is scheduled to be demolished the police officers were able to use battering rams, weapons that shoot a paint ball and equipment that they may normally use during a real life situation.
As a joint tactical team, Metro SWAT relies on multiple jurisdiction to provide personnel and equipment. At any given time, there are more than 20 members of the team. They use everything form a sledge hammer to a battering ram to enter a targeted location. Earlier this year, Bonney Lake purchased an armored vehicle for the SWAT team. Team members have anywhere from 40 to 80 lbs of gear on them with a helmet, goggles, shield, primary and sometimes secondary weapons.
“We get to actually practice with that stuff,” Westover said. “This is the best training you can get because it’s realistic with objects in the way and hiding places.”
Often times SWAT is in competition with fire services to use buildings scheduled to be demolished, but because of the location of the Puyallup building it was not a good candidate for a controlled burn, Westover said.
“We want to get it before they burn it down,” said Officer Dave Temple, SWAT member and Puyallup police officer.
This year alone, Metro Swat has responded to 16 calls from serving warrants to high risk criminals to suspects barricading themselves in a residence.
Metro SWAT was created about 10 years ago when special response and special operations groups in Puyallup and Bonney Lake merged and added other departments to the mix. The newest addition has been the Lakewood Department. Metro SWAT is one of three SWAT teams in Pierce County, with Tacoma and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department having he other two.
By having a multi-jurisdictional team, the members have primary jobs at their local departments. Often times members stay a part of Metro SWAT for four to five years.
As a multi-jurisdictional unit, multiple departments are able to bare the brunt of cost.
“With that many cities it keeps the cost down on equipment,” Westover said. “(And) all of the equipment is great to have.”