Community Policing Bureau - Garden Grove

Since its inception, the Garden Grove Police Department’s Special Weapons And Tactics Team (SWAT) has provided a readyresponse to situations that are beyond the capabilities of normally equipped and trained Department personnel. SWATresponds to barricade/hostage situations, as well as handling service of high risk warrants for all Department entities. Officersassigned to the team are volunteers from the ranks of Patrol, Investigations or another assignment on a regular basis, butrespond to situations as needed.Throughout the year, members of the team attended training in multiple areas in order to maintain their perishable skills.They also had the opportunity to assist in training other members of the Department in active shooter incident response andbuilding searches.The SWAT team served five high-risk search warrants for cases involving narcotics, gang members, and violent crimes. One ofthe warrants served involved the same location and suspect as a 2007 warrant, where weapons and narcotics were recovered.Once again, weapons and narcotics were found at the location.During 2011, SWAT also provided dignitary protection for local officials and security for the many community festivals heldthroughout the year. These include the Strawberry, Arab American, Tet, and Korean festivals.The Garden Grove Police HostageNegotiation Team (HNT) was formedin 1978 and is comprised of 12 highlytrained negotiators. Officers assignedto the team are experienced veteranswho work in Patrol, Investigations oranother assignment on a regular basis,but respond to volatile situations whenthe need arises.The primary function of the negotiator is to deescalatean unstable situation utilizing active listeningtechniques and a calm demeanor. HNT officers respondwith SWAT officers on all search warrants, in the eventthe suspect refuses to comply and a barricade situationdevelops. During a call-out situation, officers assignedto intelligence-gathering use their investigative skillsto develop information about suspects and victims,while other team members may be required to writearrest and/or search warrants.All members of the HNT are cross-trained to handle any assignment within the unit, including primary negotiator, secondarynegotiator and intelligence gathering. All negotiators attend mandatory monthly training, and are members of the CaliforniaAssociation of Hostage Negotiators (CAHN), a professional organization comprised of negotiators from throughout the state.Teams from the local region regularly meet to share valuable training and experience.