K-Commando Explained

Unit Name:K-Commando
Native Name:K-Komando
Dates:1991–present
Country: Estonia
Type:Police tactical unit
Ops Juris:
  • National
Headquarters:Tallinn
Sworn Type Label:Operators
Sworn:Classified
Current Commander:Marek Aas
Notable Commanders:Lembit Kolk
Programmes:-->
Significant Operations:

K-Commando (K-Komando) is a police tactical unit of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB), created in 1991 to perform tasks requiring special training. It is similar in function to the SWAT teams in the U.S., and is responsible for such issues as managing:

K-Commando's areas of activity include the apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, hostage crisis management, counter-terrorism and other tasks requiring special training.

The number of members of the unit has never been made public by the police and the identity of the members is classified.

K-Commando is part of ATLAS, the European Union's network of special intervention units.[1]

K-Commando is known for its fearsome reputation and high level of professionalism. Recruitment involves rigorous testing and requires the approval of all current team members. Only when a consensus has been reached will the candidate be accepted into the unit. As in other special police units, applicants must have a long service record. The number of members is undisclosed, and there are no known casualties thus far. The unit operates under the command of the Central Criminal Police of Estonia (Estonian: Keskkriminaalpolitsei).

History

Formation

The unit was founded in 1991 under the name Police Reserve Special Unit by Henn Kask. The unit got its current name in 1993 after the group's commanding officer at that time, Lembit Kolk (retired).

K-Commando was originally trained by the FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (FBI SWAT) in the United States, the German GSG 9 and the French's RAID, among others.

Operations

Equipment

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FOTOD: K-Komando harjutas koostööd välisriikide eriüksustega .
  2. https://kuku.postimees.ee/podcast/k-komando-30 (32:30-36:50)
  3. https://kuku.postimees.ee/podcast/k-komando-30 (14:30-18:00)
  4. https://kuku.postimees.ee/podcast/k-komando-30 (19:20-25:35)
  5. https://kuku.postimees.ee/podcast/k-komando-30 (26:00-28:50)
  6. http://img.bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/files/BEMIL068/upload/2007/02/Estonian%20K-Komando%20during%20the%20demonstration%20in%202006_4.JPG
  7. http://img.bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/files/BEMIL068/upload/2007/02/Estonian%20K-Komando%20during%20the%20demonstration%20in%202006_1.JPG
  8. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-03-01 . 2017-03-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170302111857/http://albums.rate.ee/s3/1/3/9/139e5885613.jpg . dead .
  9. http://img.bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/files/BEMIL068/upload/2007/02/Estonian%20K-Komando%20during%20the%20demonstration%20in%202006_5.JPG