The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team is a specialized, multi-agency unit trained to resolve high-risk incidents that exceed the capabilities of standard patrol operations. The team responds to a variety of critical situations, including barricaded subjects, hostage rescues, armed suspect apprehensions, high-risk warrant service, dignitary protection, and major civil disturbances that pose a threat to public safety.
Operating under the leadership of a Sheriff’s Office Operations Commander, the SWAT Team includes personnel from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Louisville Police Department, Erie Police Department, and SWAT medics from Mountain View Fire Rescue. This regional collaboration enhances coordination and ensures an effective, timely response to critical incidents throughout Boulder County.
The team is composed of tactical operators, crisis negotiators, SWAT medics, video specialists, and communications personnel – each serving a critical function in ensuring the safe and successful resolution of high-risk operations. SWAT medics from Mountain View Fire Rescue are embedded with the team during deployments to provide immediate medical support in dangerous or unstable environments, directly contributing to the safety of both team members and the public.
All SWAT team members serve in this role as a collateral duty, continuing their primary assignments within their respective agencies while remaining on-call and prepared to respond when needed. Team members train regularly in tactical operations, de-escalation strategies, firearms proficiency, and interagency coordination to maintain the highest level of operational readiness.
Several members of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team also serve as part of the Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF). This federal task force, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, includes Deputy U.S. Marshals and sworn Special Deputy U.S. Marshals from agencies across Colorado, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. COVOTF is dedicated to identifying, locating, and apprehending violent fugitives and wanted felons across Colorado and the United States.
The Boulder County SWAT Team is committed to safeguarding the community by resolving dangerous situations with professionalism, precision, and an emphasis on preserving life. Through extensive training, interagency cooperation, and a strong dedication to public safety, the team plays a critical role in the Sheriff’s Office mission to protect and serve Boulder County.
