The Sandy Springs Police Department gave notices that it will leave the North Metro SWAT team to focus its efforts on the citizens and businesses of Sandy Springs.
North Metro SWAT was founded in 2009 by Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Johns Creek, with Brookhaven and Chamblee joining the collaborative effort in later years.
The Sandy Springs Police Department (SSPD) SWAT team will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, Sgt. Leon Millholland told Rough Draft Atlanta. This assures that SSPD personnel and equipment will be used within the city.
The SSPD team will have an entry team, perimeter team, and sniper team. A crisis negotiation team will also be available to support operations, Millholland said.
Each city equally contributed its vehicles, equipment, and personnel to the multijurisdictional North Metro SWAT Team, Millholland said. SSPD’s armored Bearcat, an equipment truck, and personnel were provided to North Metro SWAT but will become part of the local team, he said.
Each city member of North Metro SWAT was on an on-call status and team members responded when called out, Millholland said.
The SSPD expects costs for its own team will remain the same.
