Why Do SWAT Cover Their Faces?
- S.W.A.T. team members are tasked with some of the most dangerous duties in law enforcement. Because they are often responsible for securing dangerous crime scenes and shooting suspects when necessary to protect the lives of others, it is paramount that each S.W.A.T team member's identity be concealed to protect him from future acts of retaliation. Wearing a mask during the course of S.W.A.T operations means the S.W.A.T team member's face is unseen during the course of his duties and his identity remains undisclosed.
- Masks such as gas masks and specially designed fitted masks also help to protect a S.W.A.T team member's skin when exposed to chemical weapons and gun powder residue. The barrier that a mask provides protects the delicate surface of the skin from the burns and irritation that can develop when exposed to these elements. Wearing a mask when shooting also guards the skin from the shock that it sometimes absorbs when the weapon is held against the cheek during the course of discharge.
- Masks offer additional benefits for S.W.A.T team members who are engaged in night-time operations. Dark masks help a S.W.A.T team member to move in on his target without being detected as the darkness of his mask and uniform blends in with the darkness of night, much in the way that camouflage uniforms and masks allow military members to blend in with their surroundings in an outdoor battle.
- Masks are a required component of each S.W.A.T team member's attire as they ensure a uniform look. Being able to quickly identify another S.W.A.T team member is paramount during the course of an operation because each member can communicate non-verbally with hand gestures, and it prevents other S.W.A.T team members being accidentally fired upon, mistaken as a potential suspect.