TO BEST MANAGE THE DEMANDS OF A HIGHLY MOBILE SOCIETY, POLICE OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN AMENDED TO COUNTER THE CHANGING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE SOCIETY. SPECIAL POLICE UNITS WITH MOBILITY TO MATCH THAT OF THE CRIMINALS WHOM THEY OPPOSE, HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH MODERN WEAPONS AND VEHICLES, AND TRAINED IN THE MOST MODERN TECHNIQUES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MAYHEM. THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA., EMPLOYS A TACTICAL OPERATIONS UNIT (TOU) WHICH REPRESENTS THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE VARIOUS SPECIALITY UNITS FORMED DURING THE SIXTIES. THE TOU UNIFIED COMMAND STRUCTURE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO SPECIAL FUNCTIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE EXPERTISE OF THE PERSONNEL WITHIN A VARIETY OF RESPONSIBILITIES. MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPECIAL UNITS WERE FURTHER REDUCED BY INCREASED TRAINING OF PATROL OFFICERS IN AREAS FORMERLY ASSIGNED TO SPECIAL PERSONNEL. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE TOU IS TO AUGMENT THE LINE FORCE; IT HAS SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES IN AREAS OF BOMB DISPOSAL, RIOT CONTROL, AND SNIPER SUPPRESSION. CONTINUOUS REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION OF THE TOU WAS CONDUCTED TO BALANCE THE ANTICIPATED NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC WITH THE BEST ECONOMY OF COSTS. THE UNIT WAS TASK ORGANIZED INTO VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY AND SPECIALIZATION WITHIN THE UNIT. THE SPECIALIZED ELEMENTS INCLUDE THE CANINE AND BOMB DISPOSAL GROUPS WHICH ALSO SERVE THE LARGER REGION. THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS TRAINED FOR ANTISNIPER AND BARRICADED SUSPECT OPERATIONS. THE UNIT HAS CONDUCTED A TERRAIN ANALYSIS OF THE BIRMINGHAM AREA TO PROVIDE ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE OF LOCATIONS WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR OCCUPATION BY SNIPERS. THE SELECTION AND TRAINING OF TOU PERSONNEL STRESSES THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL MATURITY REQUIRED FOR CRUCIAL OPERATIONS, AND THE NEED FOR CONSTANT REVIEW. (TWK)