Detective Justin Rivera keeps three ballistic vests in his gear: one for detective work, one for patrol duty, and one for SWAT operations. That's life on Greenwich's Emergency Services Unit, where every member already has a full-time job elsewhere in the department before they even sign up for the extra risk.

Unlike big-city departments that staff SWAT teams around the clock, Greenwich's ESU is made up of volunteers who train on their own time on top of their regular assignments. The Greenwich Police Department fields 152 sworn officers total, with the ESU operating alongside other specialized units like the Dive Team, Bike Unit, Drone Unit and Marine Section.

"We selectively choose our members based on their ability to be that person in the moment so that we can rely on them and each other," Rivera said.

ESU deployments split into planned events, like providing security at the Greenwich Town Party in May, and unplanned critical incidents — barricaded subjects, hostage situations, or other emergencies that need specialized resources on short notice. Either way, Rivera said the real preparation happens long before any callout: staying in peak physical shape, training continually with specialized equipment, and putting in hours well beyond a normal schedule. The department's Public Safety Complex backs that up with a fitness center, tactical training room and indoor pistol range.

When asked what outsiders rarely think to inquire about, Rivera didn't point to weapons or tactics — he pointed to camaraderie. The unit's culture, built through shared experience and genuine concern for each other's wellbeing, matters as much as the training itself.

That mindset reflects a broader shift Rivera says has taken hold across law enforcement over the past 15 years, moving away from an era when talking about the emotional toll of the job was discouraged. GPD now runs peer support programs where trained officers check in with colleagues after tough calls, encouraging healthy outlets like talking things through or staying active through running or martial arts.

At GPD's Police Day event in May, Rivera showed off the unit's SWAT truck to community members at the Public Safety Complex, while a K9 officer demonstrated the department's working dog.

Residents can reach the Greenwich Police Department at (203) 622-8004 or email tips to [email protected].