FORTY Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) personnel from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) graduated from an Urban Assault Course to enhance their capability to respond to incidents in the city.

CCPO Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma said that the course was meant to build the confidence and skills of the Swat teams.

“Since these are the teams that are specialized, we could use them as a last resort when we have exhausted all forms of police interventions in any incident,” Garma said.

During the course, the skills of Swat teams were put to the test in an urban setting.

“We could use them as assault teams during the conduct of police operations,” she said.

The tactical and defense training was held in the NS Firing Range in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City and at the CCPO headquarters.

Garma said that the course lasted for about two weeks.

“Actually they have the foundation training already and this is to review and develop their skills further,” she said.

Some of the exercises tackled during the Swat training may also be taught to personnel of the different police stations.

“We can train the personnel in the police stations also and we can replicate their exercises, such as the one on shooting accuracy,” Garma said.

She said that during the service of 13 warrants in a recent “One Time Big Time” operation of the Police Regional Office 7, Swat teams were deployed together with the City Mobile Force Company (CMFC).

The city director said that not one of the subjects of the warrants of arrest died because they didn’t resist even if some were armed.

“Our Swat wouldn’t fire their guns if the subject will peacefully yield to the authorities,” she said. (JOB)