SALT LAKE CITY - The Salt Lake City Police Department is training recruits for its SWAT team.
The training is intense with physical, strategy and decision-making tasks, but by the time the recruits finish the week-long SWAT school, they're the best of the best.
"We are short right now on the SWAT team, so we are looking for somebody to join the team," said Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Robin Heiden.
Thirty-four officers applied. Four have already dropped out, and police say only a handful will last through the whole week.
"We are at the first day of SWAT school and we are looking for somebody that has the physical ability," said Lt. Rich Brede, Tackle Commander for the SLC SWAT team.
On the first day of training, officers are completing an obstacle course. They're aiming for a three- or four-minute completion time, but most don't make it nearly that fast.
"When you look at these obstacles, one might think it's easy to get over that, but they are a series and they are also wearing body armor and equipment that make it more difficult for them to tackle these," Brede said.
The obstacle course was only the beginning of the training. Throughout the week, officers will run through a series of decision-making and strategy tests.
