The Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) is a unit of Lompoc Police Department Officers who are highly trained in special weapons and tactics. Each member attends a SWAT course and the team practices on a regular schedule. The Lompoc Police Department's S.W.A.T. Team is responsible for handling incidents that regular patrol officers and detectives and investigators aren't equipped or trained to handle such as if there is a barricaded subject, hostage situation, high risk arrest or search warrant service. They also train to respond to civil unrest or any incident above the resources available to the patrol shift. The team has hostage negotiators whose job it is to negotiate with persons involved in critical incidents and to assist in peaceful resolutions.