The Michigan Tactical Officers Association (MTOA) was founded in Metro-Detroit in 1988. This not-for-profit organization was started in order for SWAT teams throughout the State of Michigan to exchange ideas, and methods of tactical operation. This was a forum for tactical officers to relay their experiences to other officers so they may benefit from the outcomes of incidents involving tactical teams.

Since then, following suit with the National Tactical Officers Association, the MTOA has opened the organization to more than just SWAT team members. Tactically-oriented patrol officers, K-9 units, hostage negotiators, helicopter air units, bomb technicians, tactical paramedics, and certain military units are eligible to join the association. This has resulted in a wealth of information reaching the membership from extremely knowledgeable and gifted operators. One byproduct of this information exchange has been standardization of tactics throughout the state, and ultimately, tactical situations being brought to an end safer and more efficiently. The MTOA currently consists of several hundred members to include operators from seven states, the U.S. military and Canada.

The MTOA has members certified as instructors in every area of tactical operations. Whether it be bringing in some of the top trainers in the country or using in-house members as instructors, the MTOA conducts various training exercises throughout the state of Michigan for the benefit of its members. The MTOA conducts/hosts training covering all areas of tactical operation, from firearms operation all the way through multi-jurisdictional hostage rescue scenarios.