S.W.A.T. - Special Weapons and Tactics

The Sioux Falls Police Department’s SWAT team is made up of 15 dedicated police officers, detectives, and sergeants that are called upon to resolve difficult police situations outside the realm of ordinary patrol response. They accomplish this by the use of developed skills, tactics, and specialized equipment.

In 2010, the SWAT team also added a team medic to the team, Jim Sideras, who is from Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and has been a great addition to the team. Jim’s position is to provide medical attention to SWAT officers and/or people that the team comes into contact with during SWAT operations that have a medical need. Jim provides this medical attention until the subject is passed on to other medical professionals outside of the inner perimeter of the call. Throughout the year Jim has provided some basic medical training to the SWAT operators and has also increased the medical equipment that the team now has on hand. This part of the team is exciting and something that is hoped to be built on in the future as we add a few more medics to the team.

The SWAT team kept busy in 2010 serving search warrants, dealing with barricaded subjects, and training. The Sioux Falls Police Department’s SWAT team had been involved in ten different call-outs. They included search warrants, barricaded subjects, a buy/bust of a firearm, and a barricaded aggravated assault subject.

The SWAT team trains two times each month. This training consists of shooting at the range, building searches, team movements, and other team-building exercises. The team shoots once a month and works hard at maintaining high standards for firearms qualification with handguns and rifles. Members of the SWAT team also attend other training throughout the year. This training consisted of the following: Rapid Deployment/Active Shooter Training, Basic and Advanced SWAT Training. This was all put on in different parts of South Dakota and was led by instructors from the National Tactical Officers Association.

The SWAT team, again in 2010, was active training officers of the department in rapid deployment. They also made presentations to the Citizens’ Academy class and SWAT members trained new recruits (both in Pierre and at the SFPD) in building searches.

In January of 2010 a valuable member of the SWAT team, Sgt. Josh Disburg, resigned from the SWAT team. Josh had served the department’s team for the last 10 years. Josh’s wisdom and knowledge will be missed, as well as his calm demeanor and way of getting things done. Josh’s commitment to the team was outstanding and his leadership will be missed; however, we know he’s still there in case he’s needed. Thank you, Josh, for your years of commitment to the team!