SWAT Background:


In the United States, a SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team is generic term for a law enforcement unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to handle riot control or violent confrontations with criminals, the number and usage of SWAT teams increased in the 1980s and 1990s during the War on Drugs and later in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. In the United States as of 2005, SWAT teams were deployed 50,000 times every year, almost 80% of the time to serve search warrants, most often for narcotics. SWAT teams are increasingly equipped with military-type hardware and trained to deploy against threats of terrorism, for crowd control, hostage taking, and in situations beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement, sometimes deemed "high-risk". Other countries have developed their own paramilitary police units (PPUs) that are also described as or comparable to SWAT forces.

SWAT units are often equipped with automatic and specialized firearms, including submachine guns, assault rifles, riot shotguns, sniper rifles, riot guns, riot control agents, smoke, and stun grenades. In addition, they may use specialized equipment including heavy body armor, ballistic shields, entry tools, armored vehicles, thermal and night vision devices, and motion detectors for covertly determining the positions of hostages or hostage takers, inside enclosed structures.

Heavy SWAT Detail:


The Heavy SWAT is a heavily armored unit armed with an AMCAR-4 assault rifle or Reinbeck shotgun. He appears from the first assault to the end of the heist, and spawns more frequently on higher difficulty levels. On Hard difficulty and above, he is the most common enemy the player will face. Because of his relatively large health pool (over double a normal SWAT member's), the Heavy SWAT's head is often targeted. When killed by a headshot, his visor will shatter and create a distinct sound.

Players can earn the achievement "Intimidating" by forcing a Heavy SWAT to cuff himself.

Note that even though he is bulkier and more armoured, he is just as fast as his lighter counterpart.