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City of Napa SWAT Team The SWAT team logo was designed by the members of the team. The badge represents the public trust; the sword, the ever present danger of the job; the letters FVU stand for the Latin words fortitudo, virtus, unitas. The English translation is courage, strength, unity. Three characteristics that the Napa Police Department SWAT team deem to exemplify SWAT. The Napa Police Department has fielded a SWAT team since the late 1970’s. The present team consists of 10 officers, and a team leader. The teams mission is to assist patrol operations with high risk incidents such as armed, barricaded subjects; hostage situations; and to assist with the service of search and arrest warrants where there is a potential for violence. Or any critical incident where the field supervisor believes the SWAT teams presence will increase the likelihood of a safe and successful resolution. As the name implies (Special Weapons And Tactics) the team members are issued special weapons including: semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms, long range precision rifles, flash-bang diversionary devices, tear gas grenades, ballistic shields, vests and helmets. Also, as the name states, they train in special tactics. These tactical methods are designed to bring a critical incident to a close with the least amount of risk to the officers and citizens of Napa. The true success of a SWAT team, however, is not measured in equipment, but in their performance as a team. A team that is not trained, not disciplined, and inexperienced, is a liability to its community. No matter how well armed and equipped they may be. To this end the Napa Police Department selects its members for the SWAT team from officers who have at a minimum successfully completed their probationary status. These officers must then pass a physical testing standard that includes a two mile run, push ups, pull ups, and sit ups. They also must qualify with department firearms to a higher standard than the non-SWAT patrol officer. The team members train together, as a team, at least once a month. And at least quarterly, the physical and firearms standards are met by all members of the SWAT team. Often the Napa Police Department SWAT team will combine with the Napa Sheriff’s Office SERT team, to form a fully equipped and staffed tactical unit, capable of responding to any critical incident in Napa County. Most recently this combined tactical unit raided a drug manufacturing laboratory in a remote part of Napa County. The end result was two arrests, the identification of two more drug dealers, and the seizure of the largest drug lab in Napa County history. Back to the NPD Home Page.