Special Warrant Enforcement and Apprehension Team
In 1999, the Novi Police Department started a
fugitive apprehension team known as S.W.E.A.T. The objective of
S.W.E.A.T. is to locate, identify and arrest suspects wanted for
criminal offenses that were committed within the City of Novi, as
well as Novi residents that are wanted for criminal offenses by
other law enforcement agencies. It is the goal and intent of the
S.W.E.A.T. unit to place into custody, suspects wanted for those
criminal offenses and take them off the streets. When the program
was initiated, the Novi Police Department held over 1,700
misdemeanor and felony warrants.
The S.W.E.A.T. unit is comprised of members of the
Patrol Division and is
under the command of the Patrol Division Commander. Patrol officers
are assigned to the S.W.E.A.T. unit for a temporary assignment. All
members of the Patrol Division are given the opportunity to serve on
the S.W.E.A.T. unit, and the Sergeant in command of the unit does
the scheduling of unit members.
S.W.E.A.T. unit officers utilize a variety of
methods to track suspects and apprehend them. All persons arrested
have had previous notification of the existence of a warrant and
have chosen to disregard the notice. Unit members work in plain
clothes as well as in uniform. S.W.E.A.T. officers may go to other
jurisdictions to apprehend persons wanted out of Novi, however, the
assistance of that city’s police department is also requested.
S.W.E.A.T. officers also assist the
S.O.N.I.C. unit
by turning over information about narcotics use or distribution that
is learned based upon an arrest.
Click here to view the FBI 10 Most Wanted List.
