Emergency Task Force (TPS)

The Emergency Task Force (ETF) is the tactical unit of the Toronto Police Service (TPS). It is mandated to deal with high risk situations like gun calls, hostage taking, barricaded persons, emotionally disturbed persons, high risk arrests and warrant service, and protection details. The unit was created in 1965, and inspired the television show Flashpoint. An earlier non-SWAT Riot and Emergency Squad emerged in 1961.

Unlike most SWAT teams, the ETF is not a pure paramilitary unit. The ETF mission profile includes terrorism threats, which are also handled by Joint Task Force 2.

Organization

The Emergency Task Force currently comprises 82 officers from all units who are tactically trained. There are seven Special Weapons Teams consisting of 10 officers each. The teams are on-call 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Each tactical team has a team leader, assaulters, snipers, bomb technicians, and a negotiator. All team members are trained as assaulters, and thus are able to perform any necessary tasks requiring force.

The unit is located in Toronto and is a building that was built in 1989. It contains:

• meeting rooms
• two shooting ranges
• a rappelling tower
• an exercise room
• a large garage to house the unit's specialized vehicles

Three...
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