Tactical Units
The Port of Seattle Police department is one of six member agencies that make up Valley SWAT, a regional tactical team. Valley SWAT is composed of six officers and one commander from the cities of Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila and the Port of Seattle.
This regional team was formed in its current configuration in spring 2000 to counter increasing occurrences of violent encounters across the south King County Valley region. The team’s mission is to Save Lives by providing stabilization and resolution to high-risk situations beyond the ability of standard police patrol units to resolve safely.
The large number of highly trained and well equipped officers allows for:
- Safe and effective response to potentially volatile situations on all port properties
- Access to the largest tactical team in the State of Washington.
- Increased financial responsibility by spreading the costs of maintaining a team across six jurisdictions.
Valley SWAT’s primary duties focus on:
- High-Risk Warrant Service
- Dignitary Protection
- Armed Barricade Suspect Resolution
- Critical Infrastructure Protection
- Response to Coordinated Multi-Cell Terrorist Attacks
- Hostage Rescue
Valley SWAT maintains an excellent reputation across the region and the nation. The team conducts the region wide Valley Active Shooter School training the regions police officers in patrol level active shooter response. Valley SWAT operates the region’s best training and certification for explosive breachers, drawing in students from many states across the greater Pacific Northwest. SWAT officers from the Port of Seattle Police Department are many of the primary instructors in these schools as well as trainers and executive leaders for the Washington State Tactical Officers Association. Additionally, the department maintains trainers with leadership roles in the National Tactical Officers Association and serve as committee members for various committees with the National Institute of Justice.
