IN 1990 THE WOOD COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CREATED A SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM TO DEAL WITH CRITICAL INCIDENTS. THESE INCIDENTS WOULD INCLUDE:

• BARRICADED SUICIDAL SUBJECTS
• HOSTAGE SITUATIONS
• HIGH RISK SEARCH WARRANTS

 

THE DEPARTMENT PICKED A TEAM LEADER AND SENT THAT PERSON TO SEVERAL SCHOOLS. THE DEPARTMENT THAN STARTED THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A FULL BLOWN TACTICAL TEAM. THE DEPARTMENT SCREENED DEPUTIES UPON CERTAIN CRITERIA AND THEN PICKED INDIVIDUALS TO THREE SEPARATE AREAS OF THE TEAM. THOSE BEING:

• ENTRY TEAM ( 8 MEMBERS)
• SHARPSHOOTERS (4 MEMBERS)
• NEGOTIATORS ( 4 MEMBERS)

 

THE TACTICAL TEAM NOW TRAINS ONCE A MONTH, AND IS ON 24 HOUR CALL. THE TEAM IS TRAINED IN SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS. THE TEAM ALSO TRAINS WITH OTHER TACTICAL UNITS IN WOOD COUNTY.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS PURCHASED ALL THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO HANDLE ANY SITUATION. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE TEAM IS TO RESOLVE ALL INCIDENTS IN A SAFE MANNER.

A BUS WAS DONATED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND IS USED AS A TACTICAL VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT AND STORE MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO HANDLE ANY SITUATION.

THIS BUS WAS REMODELED AND NOW HAS THREE AREAS. THE FRONT AREA IS A STAGING AREA AND STORAGE AREA FOR EQUIPMENT. THE CENTER OF THE BUS HAS BUNK BEDS AND SMALL KITCHEN AREA. THE BUS IS ALSO USED BY THE RESCUE UNIT FOR PROLONGED INCIDENTS. THE BACK OF THE BUS IS A COMMAND POST. ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT CAN BE OPERATED FROM THIS AREA.

THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM HANDLES NUMEROUS CRITICAL INCIDENTS A YEAR.