POUGHKEEPSIE  – The Joint SWAT Team, composed of members from the City and Town of Poughkeepsie police departments, has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Before 2024, each department operated its own SWAT team. The merger brought together their personnel, equipment and resources, forming a single, more robust unit. The consolidation has improved emergency response times and increased coordination between the two departments.

The team was certified by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services prior to receiving the grant.  The $75,000 in state funding will be used to purchase safety equipment, including ballistic vests and helmets, for team members.

Each department assigns 12 qualified officers to the team, who train extensively together to maintain their positions. The training was essential for certification, which sets standards for selection, physical fitness and operational planning.

The two-year-old team has conducted more than two dozen operations in the past year, including multiple high-risk narcotics raids.
“Providing officers who work in the most dangerous situations with the highest level of protective equipment is a top priority,” said City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Rich Wilson.  The chief, during his more than 30 years as a sworn officer, served as a SWAT Team operator before the merger.


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