Is there "S.W.A.T." or something similar in Canada?

Question

I'm 16 and as a career choice I want to be part of S.W.A.T., but I don't think there is one in Canada. So hopefully there is something similar, if not, then I guess I'll just be a police man :(

Answer 1

Its NOT like TV.

The Emergency Task Force of the Toronto Police service has a motto that is " We talk them to death, not shoot them :" They respond to 100's of calls a year, but  have killed only  two people in the past 10 years. The exact opposite  of the Hollywood image of SWAT.

At age 16, I know that it all seems really cool but you need a LOT of education, first, PLUS great physical fitness, just to get in the door, to be interviewed, to be come a police officer.

As was said before , only a few out of every 100 people  that apply will be eventually accepted. And, that is just the start of your career. Figure at least 5 to 10 years of uniform duties, before any chance of  applying for special units..

Jim B. Toronto.

Answer 2

Each city has its own police force, plus there is the RCMP and provincial forces in Ontario and Quebec. There isn't a SWAT team that does nothing but, like in the big cities in the States, but there are tactical teams they can pull together in minutes from the regular forces in all the capitols and in the large cities like Montreal and Calgary.  By the way, Canada has very strict hiring policies, so you may not be able to get into a big city force. Only about one in a thousand applicants is accepted.

Answer 3

In Canada, we do not called them SWAT teams.  In Canada they are commonly referred to as ERT (Emergency Response Teams), Tactical teams (although in the RCMP, tactical team refers to team trained in dealing with riots etc), ERU (Emergency Response Unit) or similar names.  SWAT is what they are called in the USA.

Each police force is responsible for their own ERT team.  Some cities have only part time teams which respond only when needed.  Other cities (like Ottawa) have full time dedicated ERT teams.

However, you cannot simply join ERT.  You need to be hired on with a police service, work a minimum amount of time as a regular constable, pass various physical, psychological, proficiency testing, then be selected by the team.  Only then do you go to the training.  If you pass that, then you get on the team.

Not to be discouraging, but the percentage of police officers who ever get on an ERT team is probably less than 0.01%.  That being said, everyone needs goals...so work hard and good luck!

Answer 4

Most larger municipal police forces have SWAT teams in Canada.  Check, for example, with Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.