Civilians get look at Manchester’s SWAT Team

Nate Linstad on Aug. 7, 2024. Photo/Andrew Sylvia

MANCHESTER, N.H. – On Wednesday, the Manchester Police Department held a community discussion about the city’s Special Weapons and Tactics team, better known as the SWAT Team.

Manchester’s SWAT Team was established in 1975 and has evolved over the years to a force that might not be what a member of the public would expect when they think of a SWAT Team.

Manchester Police Department Chief Allen Aldenberg said that in his 20-year tenure in the city, he has never seen the SWAT Team engaged in a deadly force situation, even though there have been many times when officers on the SWAT Team had been shot at.

“The SWAT Team is not in the business of being dynamic, kicking down doors and flying through residences looking for bad people. We are in the business of surrounding homes and calling people out,” he said.

Some of the drones that the SWAT Team uses. Photo/Andrew Sylvia

Officer Nathan Linstad led the discussion, which provided an overview of how Manchester’s SWAT Team operates, averaging approximately 50 to 70 calls per year.

According to Linstad, the SWAT Team in Manchester is not deployed until a warrant is issued and a clear threat assessment can be ascertained indicating a potentially dangerous response to police intervention. Preliminary planning is also necessary to understand the area the SWAT Team may be entering to limit harm to suspects, officers and innocent bystanders.

“Just because we’re there doesn’t mean (the suspect) is guilty, we recognize that they’re still entitled to go through the judicial process just like everyone else in their instance,” said Linstad. “So we have a mindset: it’s not ‘hey, let’s go over there, let’s kick down some doors, let’s smash some stuff (because) this guy is a super bad guy.’”

The MedCat. Photo/Andrew Sylvia

Once on the scene, Linstad said that the Manchester SWAT Team’s goal is to contain and de-escalate potentially dangerous situations through a variety of tools ranging from what is known as a “long-range acoustical device” to varieties of drones and robots. Linstead noted that robots have been used for a variety of different situations ranging from aiding those threatening to commit suicide to apprehending armed suspects

“(Robots) can be used pretty much anyway your imagination can desire,” he said. “We’d rather use a robot than put a person in front of someone with a firearm.”

The SWAT Team also has a pair of specialized armored vehicles, one for general use and a MedCat unit.

Police Commissioner Eva Castillo organized the event and others like it that occur at noon on the first Wednesday of every month except July. She had nothing but praise for Manchester’s police.

“I think we’re top of the line,” she said. “Not only the SWAT Team, but the entire police department. I do work with a lot of police departments and we’re always at the top of everything.”

Christine Seibert (left) and Maxine Mosley post on the MedCat. Photo/Andrew Sylvia