W. Patrick Swanton — Instructor Profile

About W. Patrick Swanton

Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton
President/Instructor
Patrick Swanton’s police career started in 1980, with the Waco Police Department. His assignments were numerous. For the first ten years, he served in Patrol as a Patrol Officer, Special Investigator, and Field Training Officer training recruits.

Swanton was then assigned to the Special Operations Unit (S.W.A.T. Team) where he also became certified as a Crisis Negotiator and Team Leader for Waco P.D.’s Negotiation Team.

Patrick also worked in the Community Services Section where he specialized in Crime and Drug Prevention Programs. Swanton attended D.A.R.E. Officer training where he became certified as a D.A.R.E. Instructor.

In June of 1999, Swanton transferred back to Patrol where he was promoted to Sergeant. In 2003 Sgt. Swanton took over as the Supervisor of the Family Violence Unit. In 2010 Sergeant Swanton was recognized by Waco P.D. as Supervisor of the Year.

Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton has also attended the FBI Leadership School. In his last assignment, he was selected to be the Waco Police Department Spokesman where he remained until his Police Department retirement.

Swanton holds a Master Police Officer Certificate and an Instructor’s Certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. He also has served on the Board of the Waco Police Association, as Vice President of Training with the Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators, the Board of Directors for the Family Abuse Shelter, and the Family Abuse Shelter’s Service Committee.

Sergeant Swanton was the spokesman during the nationally known 2013 West Explosion and Twin Peaks Incidents. He was awarded a Proclamation from McLennan County Commissioners Court for his role in delivering information during the Twin Peaks Incident.

Sgt. Swanton retired from Waco PD in April of 2020. He is now President and a full-time instructor for the National Institute of Crime Prevention.