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Southwest Washington Regional SWAT

The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team was formed in 1998 when the tactical teams of the Vancouver Police Department and the Clark County Sheriffs Office combined. The teams functioned as a consolidated unit while a memorandum of understanding was created between the two law enforcement agencies. Assignments within the new team were based upon experience and ability, without regard for agency of employment. A regional agreement was drafted to include participation of the remaining municipal law enforcement agencies within Clark County, Washington. The Camas Police Department was the first agency to have an officer selected to the SWAT team under that agreement.

The mission of the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team is to support area law enforcement agencies with a tactical response to critical incidents. These types of incidents include hostage situations, barricaded suspects, high-risk apprehension, sniper situations, high-risk warrant service, or any other situation that requires the use of specialized equipment and team tactics.

The SWAT team tactical unit trains approximately 200 hours annually. Training consists of firearms qualifications, room clearing and search techniques, team movement, unarmed defensive tactics, use of chemical and less lethal munitions, land navigation, and crowd control. Team members are required to pass a physical qualification consisting of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, bar-dips, leg press, and a 1? mile run twice a year.

There are two Commanders assigned to the SWAT team, one from the Vancouver Police Department, and one from the Clark County Sheriffs Office. They share command duties of the team. There are two Sergeants assigned to the team who serve as the Team Leaders. The remaining 22 team members fill a variety of assignments including squad leaders, entry team, police sharpshooters, perimeter and breaching teams, and chemical agents specialists. There are two Cadets assigned to the SWAT team to provide logistical support. Tactical EMS Officers provide medical support during high-risk missions. All members of the SWAT team are volunteers who have other primary duty functions within their respective law enforcement agencies.

One of the team’s most recent deployments occurred on the night of Wednesday June 18th, 2003. At approximately 10:40PM, when Clark County Sheriff's deputies responded to 3500 NE Bjur Road, north of Dollars Corners, to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance between a 72 year old man and his 43 year old son.

When a deputy arrived in the area, he was advised by the father, that his son William “Brian” Young, was possibly armed with a shotgun, and walking somewhere on the property.

William was seen roaming the around the yard armed with a shotgun. William then fired several shots into the air, but luckily no one was injured. William then proceeded to enter a shack on the property still armed with the shotgun. At this time the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team was called to the scene. Sometime before the SWAT team could completely seal of the area, William managed to slip out of the shack and hid in the tree line just north of the residence. Once the team determined William’s confronted and officers eventually had to subdue him with a less lethal round.

William was treated at the scene, and transported to Southwest Washington Medical Center. William was then booked into the Clark County Jail on a single charge of Assault 4-domestic violence.