Sioux Falls SWAT team presents at Girls State

By Abigail Beeson

Mike Monte and Jon Thum visited Girls State to give a presentation about the Sioux Falls SWAT Team Friday at Aalfs Auditorium.

The Sioux Falls SWAT team is called to an average of 20 calls every year. Its primary calls are hostage situations, barricade problems, sniper shooting and high-risk missions.

“We are life savers, not life takers,” Monte said.

The SWAT team’s main goal is to save the hostage(s).

“A lot of what’s presented right now in the media leads people to believe that police officers are tinted.

“But that’s not true. People need to understand that we are professionals doing our jobs,” Thum said.

At the end of their presentation, Thum and Monte let delegates try on some of their safety equipment.

“I thought it was interesting that people got to try on their gear,” said McKenzie Fjelland, St. Louis.

Thum and Monte wanted to inspire delegates to think about their future careers.

“I thought it was a good experience for anyone looking to go into law enforcement,” said Tessa Dalberg, Cleveland.

The primary responsibility of the SWAT team is to resolve difficult police situations outside the realm of ordinary patrol response, Thum said.

“Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a police officer. I went to college at the University of Sioux Falls and got a degree in business — I knew this path wasn’t for me.”

After two years, Thum quit his job in sales and started working on the police force.

“I stared on the police force 10 years ago and for six of those years I have been on the SWAT team,” Thum said.

Thum realized he wanted to further his career while working as a cop.

“Through my time working the streets, I developed an interest in the SWAT team. I liked the team aspect and I wanted to challenge myself,” he said.

Monte has been on the SWAT team for over 11 years.

“It’s rewarding, but its tough,” Monte said.