Are LAPD metro and SWAT the same?

Understanding the LAPD: How Metro and SWAT Work Together

It's a common question: Are LAPD Metro and SWAT the same? The short answer is no—but they're closely connected. The LAPD's Metropolitan Division, often called "Metro," is a specialized unit that serves as the backbone for many of the department's high-risk operations across Los Angeles. Unlike regular patrol divisions, Metro is organized into eight platoons, each handling different tactical and enforcement duties.

One of those platoons—D Platoon—is what most people recognize as SWAT. This elite team handles the most dangerous situations: hostage rescues, barricaded suspects, and high-risk warrant executions. While SWAT is the most visible component, Metro as a whole includes other critical units like K-9 teams, mounted patrol, maritime enforcement, and administrative support. So, think of Metro as the larger tactical umbrella, with SWAT operating as its most intense, specialized arm.

Established to respond rapidly to crises citywide, Metro officers undergo rigorous training, far beyond standard patrol duties. Their presence is often called in when situations exceed the capacity of regular officers. Whether it’s a suspect armed and holed up in a building or a search operation on horseback through Griffith Park, Metro has the resources and personnel to respond.

SWAT is part of Metro, not a separate entity, and while they don’t wear the same uniform every day, their mission is unified: protect the public during the most volatile and dangerous incidents. So while the names are sometimes used interchangeably, they represent different levels of a single, highly trained division built to handle what regular patrol can’t.