The Special Weapons and Tactics Unit of the Harrisonburg Police Department is a multi talented unit able to respond to most any type of incident from a barricade to a high risk warrant. The members of this team are full time officers or investigators who train together regularly to maintain their proficiency. Members of our S.W.A.T. team regularly join with members of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office S.W.A.T. team when additional manpower is required by either unit. Selection to this unit is highly competitive and is a sought after assignment.

The Crisis Negotiations Team is currently made up of eight sworn and one non-sworn personnel. Each member is assigned to other duties within the agency and responds on an as needed basis to emergencies. This team handles all of the technical as well as actual details of the negotiation process. Its members all have specialized training in the area of crisis negotiations and are utilized for incidents ranging from abductions and barricades to suicidal subjects.