Thunder Squad
Thunder Squad (Chinese: 霹靂小組; pinyin: Pīlì Xiǎozǔ) is a specialised unit of the National Police Agency in Taiwan,[1] a highly trained Police tactical unit unit established in 1985 modelling after SWAT in the U.S. to conduct high-risk arrests and other dangerous law enforcement duties. This 200 man group is organized into small four-man elements, three of which make up an operating group.
| Thunder Squad 霹靂小組 Pīlì Xiǎozǔ | |
|---|---|
 Arm patch of Thunder Squad | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1985 |
| Employees | 200 personnel |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Republic of China |
| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Parent agency | National Police Agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan) |
Thunder Squad is also the name given to the Police tactical units of the local police departments within the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (aka Taiwan).[2] They are not to be confused with Taiwan’s NPA SOG who have similar uniforms but are completely different organisations; Thunder Squad being local where as the NPA SOG are on a national/federal level.
History
- In 1984 Gen Wego Chiang Secretary General of the Taiwan National Security Bureau in conjunction with Wu Bwo Hsiung, Minister of the Interior, issued a National Directive calling for the formation of the national SWAT Command to combat heavily armed criminals and organized crime gangs.
- ROC Marine Corps Chief of Staff Lt General Lo Chang became commissioner of the National Police Agency, and established the SWAT Training Headquarters at the First Security Corps special training base under the guidance of the NPA Training Division to select the protocols and training processes.
- In 1985 American-Chinese Chris Mar was selected as first Chief Instructor. He developed the Comprehensive Applied Close Combat and together with police officer Chen Jia Yur established the CQC Instructors and Demo team to train the National Police Agency SWAT Teams and in the Long-Term Police Instructors Close Combat Courses focusing on unorthodox tactics, Simultaneous Close Quarters Combat, Arrest and Defend procedure, SWAT Baton, Special Tactics Riot, and Advanced Rescue and Extraction.[3]
- In 2020 the NPA Thunder Squad participated in the annual Han Kuang exercise alongside special forces formations from the Military Police and Coast Guard as well as regular military.[1]
See also
References
- Chen, Kelvin (July 10, 2020). "Special forces teams to conduct joint drill during 36th Han Kuang exercise". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- Charlier, Phillip (June 28, 2020). "Cop shot and injured attempting to disarm suspect during SWAT raid". Taiwan English News. Taiwan English News. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- May 1986 SWAT Magazine