Détachement d'Action Rapide et de Dissuasion

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DARD badge

A gendarme of the DARD in intervention gear

The Détachement d'Action Rapide et de Dissuasion (DARD, "Swift action and dissuasion detachment") is a special unit of the Cantonal police of Vaud.

The DARD (a pun on dard, "sting" in French) was founded the 1 September 1991. It is an extension of the previous réserve d'intervention ("intervention reserve") which was composed of 6 gendarmes. By contrast, the DARD is a standing unit of 13 gendarmes.

In 2004, the DARD was engaged 207 times and arrested 154 people.