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 | |
| Active | 1 September 1991 – present |
| Country |  Switzerland |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Size | Classified |
| Part of | Vaud Cantonal Police |
| Garrison/HQ | Centre d'Intervention Régional (English: Regional Intervention Centre), La Blécherette, Lausanne, Vaud[1] |
| Nickname(s) | DARD |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Olivier Durgnat[2] |
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
