Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, teams stand at the forefront of modern law enforcement, merging daring, life-or-death tactics with cutting-edge police technology. These elite units conduct paramilitary operations in the full view of the media, performing missions ranging from hostage rescue and apprehension of violent felons to drug raids and natural disaster relief. SWAT Teams traces the history of special police teams worldwide, examining their techniques, tools, successes, and failures.

Key topics covered include:

• Organization and structure
• Training techniques
• History of police special response units
• The first SWAT team
• FBI's SWAT team
• Hostage negotiation
• Controversial cases
• SWAT teams around the world.