Week 6 Continued... S.E.R.T./Tactical Considerations - JCSO Citizen's Academy

S.E.R.T.:

S.E.R.T. is another acronym for SWAT.  S.E.R.T. stands for Sheriff's Emergency Response Team.  Here is some of the equipment used by S.E.R.T.:

Lethal and less lethal options.

Very expensive stuff!  Hence why not all deputies are trained and only those selected to SERT use the equipment.  It can be used by other departments and agencies if needed though.

This is one of the robots used by the SERT team.  It has voice, video and stair climbing capabilities.

More pics:

Forced entry in to closed door.

One of the less lethal weapons. 

Some of the participants couldn't resist trying on the equipment! :)

Participants got to "drive" the robot.

Can't imagine having to carry that shield!  Forgot to ask how much it weighs...

Sgt. Moore speaking about the small remote control robot. 
Lt. Hill in the background.

Gear the S.E.R.T. unit wear when going in to crisis situations.

That is a big gun!  Okay so it doesn't shoot bullets but still... 

S.E.R.T.  was started in 2003.  It is a "Life Saving Unit".  The goal of the unit is to end the situation peacefully whenever possible.  Situations rarely end in violence like the movies and TV portray.  Negotiators play a big role in helping to resolve situations peacefully.

Role of S.E.R.T. is to respond in the following situations:

• hostage
• barricade
• high risk search or arrest warrant
• dignitary protection
• high risk incidents in the detention facility
• disturbance or crowd control
• JCSO assisted in Lawrence Monday night after the championship basketball game
• a total of 250 officers from Lawrence and neighboring agencies including JCSO were tasked with controlling a crowd of nearly 30,000. 
• 20 arrests were made (mostly for disorderly conduct)
• scene was quiet compared to the madness in Kentucky
• S.E.R.T. can also assist with Emergency Management
• JCSO sent deputies to Harveyville, KS after the recent tornado to assist with securing a perimeter to prevent looting

S.E.R.T. consists of (2) 10 person teams (deputies on the team are called operators).  One team is on call 24/7 to respond as needed.  The S.E.R.T. team also consists of a commander, an assistant commander, a team leader, 2 squad leaders, 4 snipers, 1 sniper coordinator, 6 negotiators and 6 logistics staff.  Deputies must go through an application/interview process to be placed on the S.E.R.T. team.  Deputies must be physically and mentally fit to be on this team.  Sgt. Moore and Lt. Hill emphasized that deputies on the S.E.R.T. team must have a level of "maturity" to be a successful member of the team.  S.E.R.T. deputies receive additional training on top of their 40 hours of training required of all deputies.  Training may include SWAT specific training in-house or through specialized agencies.  Typically they will go through 16 hours of additional training monthly.  Currently there are no women on the S.E.R.T. team.  There have been women on it previously though and women are not excluded from the team just because of the physical components.  If they can complete the requirements, they can be on the team just as any male deputy can.


Field Tactics/Tactical Considerations:

Deputies will often work in pairs of 2 to serve warrants.  Can go out in uniform/marked cars or undercover depending on situation.  In some cases, letters are sent out prior to execution of warrant to give individual opportunity to surrender (these are generally low risk warrants such as misdemeanor). 

Forced entry may be made if probable cause, fresh pursuit or reasonable suspicion.  Safety for individual in question, public and for deputies is given priority over everything else!  Deputies would prefer to end a situation peacefully by communication rather than use force but must be prepared for anything and everything. 



Next week is introduction to the Civil Division and Court Security.  I am also scheduled for my first ride along soon and will add an entry for that.