Lubbock Co. Sheriff's Office SWAT team showcases new tools to keep community safe

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - When it comes to keeping people from harming others, or themselves, sometimes the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team has to get creative.

It has several different tools on hand, when it comes to resolving dangerous situations.

Just a few weeks ago, Lubbock saw just how critical these pieces of equipment can be when it comes to keeping officers, innocent bystanders and even suspects safe.

When a man barricaded himself inside a Lubbock motel room, the SWAT team’s robot was used to get him out of the room and pin him down so he could be arrested.

“The way things are, it’s obviously become more violent. And with that, the equipment has to move up,” Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team Commander Lt. Chris Daniel said.

When Daniel began his career in SWAT with the Lubbock Police Department in 2001, he often entered unknown, dangerous situations with a vest and a helmet. Now, new equipment is helping the SWAT commander for the county and his team enter situations with more knowledge and protection.

“For the most part, our guys are covered and protected anywhere they go, as well as the ability to move in between what may be a violent subject and innocent people, or the public, and be able to utilize this to protect everyone,” Daniel said.

This year, the SWAT team was granted two new large vehicles. Daniel says the BearCat has increased their options dramatically, allowing them to breech entry, deploy gas, utilize cameras and negotiate with people from inside.

The Rook has the same capabilities, but can get into places the BearCat can’t, and allows law enforcement to get closer to suspects safely.

“This is a big item that is needed. There are so many departments that have SWAT teams and have called to ask if we could go,” he said.

Daniel says that answer is always yes, as it’s one of only seven in the state.

Sheriff Kelly Rowe says the team is always brainstorming new ways to use equipment. The SWAT team improvised two weeks ago when it used its robot to arrest someone.

“I don’t know that we could repeat it. Again, it’s a confluence of events that happened,” Rowe said. “The quick thinking of the operator with that...robot made a decision and it was a good decision.”

Rowe says today, more people are unwilling to surrender and more likely to shoot.

“Sadly, because of this tremendous influx of narcotics that has been pouring in in record levels for the last number of years, it’s just created a different environment. And we’re seeing a lot more violence as a result of it. We’re seeing a lot more shootings as a result of it,” he said.

While the SWAT team wants people to see these vehicles as new ways to resolve dangerous situations, it also wants people to see them as a sign to stay away from whatever is happening.

“When they see us, we will always take prayer. Always. For the public, for us, for everybody involved, even the suspect,” Daniel said.

The Rook and BearCat were given to the agency through a Texas Anti-Gang Center state grant. Rowe says that appropriation also primarily funded the new Anti-Gang Center building, now in construction in Lubbock County.