KINGSTON — Law enforcement officers from a dozen agencies graduated from the Basic SWAT Operator Course conducted by the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office on April 24.  The intensive training program, led by the sheriff’s office, brought together officers from across the region to bolster interagency cooperation and tactical readiness.

The course included participants from the Ulster, Sullivan, and Albany County sheriff’s offices, as well as the police departments of Kingston, Ulster, Lloyd, Rosendale, Colonie, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and the towns of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie.

Throughout the course, participants received instruction in special weapons and tactics, focusing on skills needed for high-risk operations. The program emphasized safety, precision, decision-making and coordination, preparing graduates to respond to complex incidents that exceed the capabilities of traditional patrol units.

“This training reflects our continued commitment to providing our personnel and partner  agencies with the highest level of training,” said the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.
“We live in a world of what if something occurs in our communities,” Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said.  “Mass shootings, school shootings, barricaded subjects, to name a few. The importance of being prepared and protecting our community cannot be understated,” Sheriff Figueroa said, explaining the need for the training.  “The baseline training these brave men and women completed is a testament to their selflessness; Running towards danger to protect us all.”
Sheriff Figueroa noted that each of the graduates volunteered for the specialized training, noting the operators “volunteer to protect us when we need it most.”


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