Tokubetsu-keibi-tai (Metropolitan Police Department)

The Emergency Service Unit members with a jō.

The Emergency Service Unit (特別警備隊, Tokubetsu-keibi-tai) was a rapid reaction force of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) in the pre-World War II era.[1] This unit were interpreted as a Japanese counterpart of the New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit.[2]

History

In 1933, this unit was established in the Police Bureau (警務部, Keimu-bu) for the crowd control, riot control, counter-terrorism, search and rescue, disaster response or other emergency missions. The strength was 307 officers, divided into four companies. As a SWAT team of the TMPD, they were equipped with a jō, tantō and FN Model 1910 semi-automatic pistol while ordinary police officers had only a sabre. And a bulletproof vest was also equipped as needed. They were popular as "Shinsengumi in the Shōwa period" even among the common people.[1]

In 1944, in conjunction with other prefectures, the Special Security Unit was modified in the Security Unit (警備隊, Keibi-tai). This unit was inactivated in 1946, but on the same day, the Guard Section (防護課, Bougo-ka) was created for the same role. In 1948, this section was reinforced to the Police Reserve Units (予備隊, Yobi-tai), and in 1957, they renamed to the Riot Police Units (機動隊, Kidō-tai).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 100th anniversary event Steering Committee, ed. (1974). History of the Metropolitan Police Department hundred years (in Japanese). Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. p. 205.
  2. ↑ Kazuo Tanemura (1970). References of Police matters (in Japanese). pp. 97–101. ASIN B000J87MCM.
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