Allegheny County (PA) Pittsburgh City SWAT Operations

City of Pittsburgh SWAT Radio Frequencies

SWAT callouts are done on City of Pittsburgh Police Channel 7 (453.4500, CTCSS 186.2). As a general rule, SWAT will not give the target location over the air. SWAT rolls from the Zone 1 Police Station on the North Side. If you are interested in knowing whether SWAT is rolling toward your neighborhood, listen to the transmit frequency of 458.4500, CTCSS 186.2. This is the raw transmit frequency coming directly from the SWAT vehicles. If SWAT is headed your way, the signal should become clearer as they approach.

SWAT utilizes "SPEC 1" 458.3375, CTCSS 186.2, as the primary talk around frequency. This frequency is covered under FCC call sign KD34400. SPEC 1 is rated at 2 watts of power. Depending upon your distance and/or elevation as compared to the Area of Operation, you may have difficulty in receiving the signal.

You will not hear certain communications of the operation, on a micro basis, as SWAT does make use of Nextel phones and instant messaging. For example, rather than recall certain Mike elements over the air for egress, the command will simply text them.

City of Pittsburgh SWAT / EOD Robot

In conjunction with EOD, SWAT has a robot available for deployment. This robot is used to approach high risk structures or objects. The radio and data feed frequencies are covered under the FCC call sign of WQLY572. Given the relatively low power ratings, you would have to be in close proximity to the action to pick up any transmissions.

153.9125 (Voice)
153.9725 (Voice)
453.8125 (Data)
458.8375 (Data)
2462.0000 (Dual Channel Data)
2467.0000 (Dual Channel Data)

City of Pittsburgh SWAT Call Signs / Team Member Designators

Each SWAT operator/member has their own designator. The form of the designator is 3TACXX, e.g. SGT Bobby Somebody is 3TAC35, etc. These designators do not change. An on duty call out only involves those operators that are on duty at the time the call is made. The initial "3" is often dropped for simplicity.

After the intial posting of this Wiki article, SWAT began employing additional desriptors as part of their call sign. Instead of saying "TAC" plus the number, they have been replacing "TAC" with Anvil, Bulldog, Hammer, Raptor, Raven, etc. This is meant to obfuscate the call sign for you the unintended listener.

Some commonly heard TAC call signs are: TAC30, TAC35, TAC37, TAC42, TAC71, TAC72, TAC76. Generally speaking, TAC71 is the tactical commander of any given operation.

There are times when a TAC operator is assigned to a specific mission within the context of the overall operation at hand. Mike 1, Mike 2, Mike 3, etc. are simply TAC operators assigned to specific mission elements. A Mike element may consist of one or more TAC operators.

Pay careful attention to the context in which the term "Mike" is used. They now use the term Mike to mean minutes as well,

A full call out includes off duty personnel, as opposed to an on-duty call out.

Note: On an infrequent basis, I have picked up certain 7000 series call signs. Those call signs have been primarily used in conjunction with SWAT call-outs. On occasion, I have also heard those units respond to calls at the Zone level. But in those instances, it appeared as though they were responding on their own accord to lend an assist. The Zone calls they responded to were always serious in nature and time sensitive. So my consensus is that the 7000 series call signs are special purpose headquarters units that are involved in narcotics interdiction, surveillance or tactical operations.

City of Pittsburgh SWAT Acronyms / Terminology

360 = Refers to coverage on the target lacation. 360 degrees would be a full circle or complete coverage.

700 = Pittsburgh utilizes accurized Remington 700 rifles for sniper applications. When talk arises as to which weapon system an operator should employ, the term "700" refers to this weapon.

AO = Area of Operation

BEAR = Armored vehicle used by SWAT

Compromise Authority = SWAT operators or Mike elements are given authority to implement plans/resources at their level. Incident Command is relinquishing its authority to the troops on the ground.
Egress = The act of leaving the Area of Operation.

EOC = Emergency Operations Center located at 400 North Lexington Ave

EOD = Explosive Ordnance & Demolition

Frag Order = Fragmentary order. An abbreviated form of an operation order that eliminates the need for restating information contained in a basic operation order. It may be issued in sections.

H* = Helocopters are referred to as H-1, H-2, H-3, Helio-1, Helio-2, etc.

HRT = FBI Hostage Rescue Team

IC = Incident Command

Ingress = The act of entering the Area of Operation.

Lima Charlie = Loud and Clear, respose to radio check request.

NFDD = Noise Flash Diversionary Device. Also referred to as a Flash Bang. The NFDD is an explosive device that, when properly deployed, produces six (6) to eight (8) seconds of physiological involuntary distraction which prohibits organized resistance.

Oscar Mike = On the move

SERT = Special Emergency Response Team. Individual team members are referred to as SERT-1, SERT-2, SERT-3, etc.

SITREP = Situation Report. A 360 SITREP would consist of SITREP's from team leaders on each side of the target location.

Solid Copy = Testosterone infused SWAT version of “Copy”.

Tango(s) = People detained in the building or SWAT's Area of Operation. Possible actors, bad guys.

Building or Structure Layout and SWAT Team Assignments

The main entrance or street side of a structure will be called “Side 1″, with 2, 3, 4 being the sides numbered in a clockwise direction. The corners would then be called “1/2/1″, "2/3/1" and so on. The third number is the floor number, which is omitted on a single story structure. The building levels will be designated 1, 2, 3 etc. from the ground up. Low Side would refer to basement.

Similar to the side numbering system of buildings, you will hear reference to Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta teams. Alpha team is the front (Side 1) entry or positioned personnel, Bravo team is on the left (Side 2) of the structure, etc. in a clockwise fashion.

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