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Salt Lake police conduct SWAT School training

Posted at 10:05 AM, Apr 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-29 19:13:21-04

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – SWAT candidates are coming together to take part in SWAT School Training, an intensive six day course testing physical stamina, leadership and teamwork.

Twenty-two members of law enforcement from different Utah agencies are giving it their all for day one of SWAT School Training.

“Let’s go come on! Come on, let’s go!” One drill instructor can be heard shouting out as the group starts the course.

“It’s a tough, challenging course,” said Lt. Derek Dimond with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

The training takes place over the course of six days.

“You can see them right now in their faces when we welcome them here and they’re scared,” said Lt. Dimond.

“Hurry up! Hurry up! Hurry up!” you hear as the group begins to slow.

Participants were dressed in full tactical gear.

“Hurry up! Waiting on you…hurry up!” another man yelled.

The course is rigorous, with a variety of obstacles which make participants, climb, carry logs, hang from ropes, crawl under wire, jump and run.

“You’re already on top of the obstacle, what’s taking so long?” one man can be heard yelling.

”They’ve got to get out here and they’ve got to be able to run and jump and go and go,” said Lt. Dimond.

Mounting the pressure each step of the way.

“We want guys who can think when they’re really sore and they’re really tired and they’re just worn out,” Dimond said.

Dimond said this is what goes in to making it as a SWAT cop.

“Don’t quit now you’re almost there, reach out touch that pole!” one leader can be heard encouraging a man shimmying across a rope.

”When they think they’re going to quit and they can’t do anymore… we want to see the guys who reach deep down and pull a little more out,” Dimond said.

To make it through these guys need endurance.

“Come on Cooper, let’s go all the way to the end let’s go!” another leader shouts to a trainee.

They need leadership.

“You got it guys, there you go!” one participant can be heard encouraging his peers while carrying a log.

They need teamwork.

“Switch shoulders! 1…. 2 … 3,” a group carrying a log shouts out as they move the piece of wood simultaneously to the other shoulder.

But, above all, they need heart.

“Seeing who wants it, who’s trying,” said Lt. Dimond.

“You don’t have to make it over everything and make it look easy, but as the person that’s just going at it and not giving up and doing their best, that’s what I want to see,” Dimond added.

All in the hopes of one day calling themselves a SWAT cop

”There’s a lot of pride to be a SWAT cop, because it’s challenging. Not everyone can be a SWAT cop and a lot of people try,” said Dimond. “It’s only the best of the best that make it through,” he said.