Last month the Lathrop Police Department officially joined forces with the Manteca and Ripon Police Departments to provide officers for a multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team that will now provide coverage for a wide swath of the South County.
And now the Lathrop officers assigned to the team will be getting the specialized training that they need to hit the ground running.
Earlier this month the Lathrop City Council approved an out-of-state travel request that will send five officers to the annual California Association of Tactical Officers conference in Reno in November – a $7,200 expenditure that will allow the five officers chosen from a competitive process to represent Lathrop to join established team members from Manteca and Ripon.
The importance of having those officers join with the team that will respond if the need arises and develop and hone the skills necessary to respond effectively
“As a new agency, it is important for our new SWAT officers to have the opportunity to learn from subject matter experts in the tactical community,” staff wrote in the report that was presented to the council. “The California Association of Tactical Officers Conference will provide the training our SWAT officers need to gain real world knowledge, tactics, and techniques that they can use in our communities to resolve critical incidents that may arise.”
The funding for the trip will come from the Lathrop Police Department’s existing budget without requiring an influx from the general fund.
The decision to partner with Ripon and Manteca further compounds the Lathrop Police Department’s dedication to working closely with neighboring agencies during the first year of its existence. The City of Lathrop currently contracts with the City of Ripon to provide evidence storage and dispatch services – both of which were previously part of the city’s contract with San Joaquin County. The Manteca Police Department has been providing the use of a police K9 team when necessary while Lathrop works to build its own program with three teams.
To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
