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 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]

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. 1 2 "DARD". Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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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