LAPD Swat Team The concept of special weapons and tactical teams originated in the late 1960s as a response to several sniper incidents against civilians and police forces in the United States. The most notable incident was the Texas Tower massacre. During this time LosAngeles experienced many problems. Escalation of violence against police and civilians has become all too common. Realizing that an effective response to these dangerous situations was virtually nonexistent, LAPD officer John Nelson introduced the concept of special weapons and tactics to Darryl F. Gates, a young police inspector. Inspector Gates approved the concept and formation of a small group of highly disciplined offices using special weapons and tactics to deal with the new level of violence and unusual assaults. The first SWAT unit consisted of fifteen four-man teams. The members were volunteers from various ranks of patrols and police positions who had various military training. In 1971, SWAT was recognized as a full-time unit with the Metropolitan Division. The Metropolitan Division of the so-called tactical unit of the LAPD, was organized into "A", "B" and "C" platoons, and received the designation "D" platoon and at the same time formally adopted the acronym SWAT. SWAT stands for SpecialWeapons and Tactics. Due to its high level of training and success rate, LAPD SWAT is considered the premier SWAT team in North America. SWAT trains regularly with various police and military agencies, sharing their knowledge and honoring their skills. SWAT STRUCTURE, officially recognized as the LAPD's "D" platoon, is composed of 60 officers, 6 sergeants and 1 lieutenant. The Lieutenant, referee... in the center of the sheet... front, rear and over-the-shoulder coverage, as well as lateral torso protection. Inside each front panel there is a large pocket into which an extra plate is inserted when wearing the vest. Because the front of the dress overlaps and zips, the plate is centered on the bust. The entrance plate is shaped and made from a polyethylene fiber manufactured by Allied Signal. The inlet plate weight is 4.4 pounds and defeats 7.62 x 51mm NA TO all-metal jacketed ammunition and similar projectiles such as .223 and 7.62 x 39mm, as well as rifle rounds expandable to soft tip. The overall weight of the Cover Six Plus is 16 pounds. Balaclava/Tactical Gloves: The gauntlet and head style gloves advised by the "D" Platoon are made of flame retardant nomex material. Their clothing offers protection to officers' extremities when encountering sharp objects and chemical and gas explosions.