Détachement d'Action Rapide et de Dissuasion

The Détachement d'Action Rapide et de Dissuasion (DARD)[3] (English: Swift Action and Deterrent Detachment) is a specialist unit of the cantonal police of Vaud,[4] originally established to counter the growing rate of terrorism in Europe during the herald of the 1970s.[5] They are based in the Centre d'Intervention Régional (English: Regional Intervention Centre), located in La Blécherette in the city of Lausanne.[1]

Détachement d'Action Rapide et de Dissuasion
DARD Patch
Active1 September 1991 – present
Country  Switzerland
TypePolice tactical unit
SizeClassified
Part ofVaud Cantonal Police
Garrison/HQCentre d'Intervention Régional (English: Regional Intervention Centre), La Blécherette, Lausanne, Vaud[1]
Nickname(s)DARD
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Olivier Durgnat[2]
A model of a DARD operator in specialist gear

The acronym DARD means "stinger" in French.

History

DARD was founded on 1 September 1991 in Vaud, due to concerns of the canton regarding terrorism at the cantonal level.[5] It is an extension of the previous réserve d'intervention ("intervention reserve") which was composed of 6 gendarmes. By contrast, the DARD is a standing unit of 13 gendarmes. One of its known commanders was Olivier Durgnat.[2]

Known operations

Skinheads were apprehended by DARD operators during a march on 30 June 2003.[6] DARD was mobilised to hunt down an armed robber who had robbed a bank on 7 November 2006.[7] DARD units were deployed to Bussigny-près-Lausanne on 12 November 2007 after an armed man was reported to Vaud police; the armed suspect was wounded before being taken to a hospital.[8]

DARD operators were deployed on 14 May 2008 in an anti-drug operation to seize hemp.[9] DARD was also deployed to conduct another anti-drug operation with 25 people arrested.[9][10]

A DARD unit was mobilised to assist sûreté detectives on 20 August 2008 to dissuade a man from committing suicide, which failed despite negotiations by DARD negotiators and detectives.[11]

On 9 January 2009, DARD units had been mobilised in a manhunt to arrest two suspects responsible for killing a sexagenarian man on 29 December 2008.[12][13]

Canine units use

DARD uses canine units in most of its operations after a training program started in 2005 with the first dog accepted into DARD service in 2006.[14]

Equipment

DARD operators are issued the following firearms:

References
  1. "DARD". Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. La Gazette (16 November 2007). "Olivier Durgnat quittel'administration" (PDF) (in French). Vaud Canton. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  3. "Promotions à la Police cantonale vaudoise" (PDF) (in French). Vaud Cantonal Police. September 2005. p. 27. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  4. "Les unités spécialisées" (in French). Vaud Canton. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  5. Tony Maillard (June 2007). "L'UAT, UN FERDE LANCE" (PDF) (in French). p. 13. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  6. "Quinze interpellations" (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  7. "Cours "anti-hold-up" pour les employés de banque" (in French). 6 November 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  8. "Un individu tire plusieurs coups de feu à Crissier" (in French). Vaud Canton. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  9. "Yverdon-les-Bains, dealers interpellés" (in French). Vaud Canton. 15 October 2008.
  10. "Drogue: 25 arrestations à Bex" (in French). Le Nouvelliste. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  11. "Acte désespéré à Fey" (in French). Vaud Canton. 20 August 2008.
  12. "Epalinges (VD): La police interpelle les auteurs présumés du meurtre d'Epalinges" (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  13. "La police interpelle les auteurs présumés du meurtre d'Epalinges" (in French). Vaud Canton. 10 January 2009.
  14. "nos missions" (in French). Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
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