HOUSTON -- The Houston Police Department's special weapons and tactics team -- or SWAT -- has been around for more than 30 years.
Making the team is difficult. You have to try out and it's a grueling process with multiple steps that could last longer than a year.
For the last 18 years HPD's SWAT team has been comprised of men only. Then, five-year HPD veteran, Jennifer Schattle signed up to try out.
"You know, you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to," said Schattle. "And, I know we’ve heard that before. But that really is the case."
Joining HPD's SWAT team has been a dream of 38-year old Schattle since she was a cadet in the police academy.
"It’s specialized. So they get a lot of training. They get to hone their craft. They’re absolutely experts at what they do," she said.
KHOU 11 viewers have seen HPD's SWAT team in action. From scaling roofs, to running through neighborhoods with rifles drawn, to withstanding Houston's heat and humidity during hours-long standoffs with people barricaded in buildings.
"When you get the call to go, you could be with your family, you could be working, you could be anywhere, and you have to respond. You have to go."
Schattle is in peak physical shape. At 5'10 inches and 160 pounds, she does a daily exercise routine that helps her body carry an additional 60 pounds of tactical gear.
She credits her husband, who is also a Houston police officer, with helping her through the process. Schattle says her husband helped with childcare, support and advice through the tryout process, which also includes an interview and SWAT school.
"We tease each other. We say there’s entirely too much authority in the household."
Jennifer's tenacity and talent inspired the KHOU 11 news team to try an HPD SWAT team workout. Watch as SWAT team members Jennifer Schattle, Charles Dexter, Robert Gonzalez and Eric Sutton walk Melissa Correa, Rekha Muddaraj and Tiffany Craig through a 10 minute workout.
