The Watertown Police Department recognizes the need for a specially trained team to respond to, and resolve situations that are of high-risk or unusual in nature. The SWAT Team is a cooperative effort between the WPD and the Codington County Sheriff's Office. The SWAT Team is highly trained for their mission. Being a SWAT Team member is a voluntary assignment in addition to the officers' regular duty assignments. The team also includes snipers, tactical dispatchers, and FBI trained crisis negotiators. 

The mission of the Watertown Police Department SWAT Team is to protect the lives of citizens and members of law enforcement, particularly during high-risk incidents involving hostages, barricaded subjects, snipers, and civil disorder. The team's primary goal is to successfully resolve these types of incidents in such a fashion as to minimize the risk of harm to our citizens, law enforcement personnel and SWAT Team members.