FEDERAL TACTICAL TEAMS: Characteristics, Training, Deployments, and Inventory
Abstract
Many federal agencies employ law enforcement officers to carry out the agencys law enforcement mission and maintain the security of federalproperty, employees, and the public. Some of these agencies have specialized law enforcement teams referred to as federal tactical teams inthis reportwhose members are selected, trained, equipped, and assigned to prevent and resolve critical incidents involving a public safety threat that their agencys traditional law enforcement may not otherwise have the capability to resolve. This report provides information on the (1) federal tactical teams and their characteristics; (2) training team members receive; (3) deployments of such teams from fiscal years 2015 through 2019; and (4) firearms, tactical equipment, and tactical vehicles in team inventories, as of January 2020. To identify federal tactical teams, GAO contacted executive branch agencies with at least 50 federal law enforcement officers. GAO administered a standardized questionnaire and data collection instrument to the identified teams to gather information on team missions, staffing, training, deployments, and inventories. GAO reviewed team documents, such as standard operating procedures, and interviewed agency officials. GAO collected descriptive information on reported deployments as of June 2020 in response to COVID-19 and nationwide civil unrest, which were ongoing during the review. GAO incorporated agency technical comments as appropriate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1131102
Entities
People
- Gretta L. Goodwin
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office