Law enforcement applications[edit]

YAMAM (Israel's counter-terrorism unit) sniper shooting with suppressed Barrett MRAD sniper rifles

Law enforcement snipers, commonly called police snipers, and military snipers differ in many ways,
including their areas of operation and tactics. A police sharpshooter is part of a police operation and
usually takes part in relatively short missions. Police forces typically deploy such sharpshooters
in hostage scenarios. This differs from a military sniper, who operates as part of a larger army,
engaged in warfare. Sometimes as part of a SWAT team, police snipers are deployed alongside
negotiators and an assault team trained for close quarters combat. As policemen, they are trained to
shoot only as a last resort, when there is a direct threat to life; the police sharpshooter has a well-
known rule: "Be prepared to take a life to save a life."[13] Police snipers typically operate at much
shorter ranges than military snipers, generally under 100 meters (109 yd) and sometimes even less
than 50 meters (55 yd). Both types of snipers do make difficult shots under pressure, and often
perform one-shot kills.

A US Secret Service sniper on the roof of the White House

Police units that are unequipped for tactical operations may rely on a specialized SWAT team, which
may have a dedicated sniper.[13] Some police sniper operations begin with military
assistance.[14] Police snipers placed in vantage points, such as high buildings, can provide security
for events.[15] In one high-profile incident commonly referred to as "The Shot Seen Around the World"
due to going viral online, Mike Plumb, a SWAT sniper in Columbus, Ohio, prevented a suicide by
shooting a revolver out of the individual's hand, leaving him unharmed.[16][17]

A U.S. Coast Guard TACLET marksman uses an M107 from a helicopter.

The need for specialized training for police sharpshooters was made apparent in 1972 during
the Munich massacre when the German police could not deploy specialized personnel or equipment
during the standoff at the airport in the closing phase of the crisis, and consequently all of
the Israeli hostages were killed. While the German army did have snipers in 1972, the use of army
snipers in the scenario was impossible due to the German constitution's explicit prohibition of the
use of the military in domestic matters. This lack of trained snipers who could be used in civilian
roles was later addressed with the founding of the specialized police counter-terrorist unit GSG 9.