CARTERET COUNTY
SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM
(SRT)
Tactical Unit
The Carteret County Multi Agency SRT will maintain a highly trained, highly skilled sheriff/police tactical unit to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, deputies, police officers and suspects. Recognizing that a well-managed response to critical incidents usually results in successful resolution of critical incidents, it is the intent of the Carteret County Multi Agency SRT Unit to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical resource for the organizations, community and its citizens in the handling of critical incidents.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish both the supervisory responsibilities and governing regulations in the selection, training, equipping, and use of the Carteret County Multi Agency SRT Tactical Unit.
Mission
The primary mission of the SRT tactical unit is the peaceful resolution of complex police situations outside the realm of contemporary patrol response through the use of developed skills, tactics and specialized equipment/capabilities. Incidents which meet the criteria include, but are not limited to:
A. Hostage Situations- The holding of any persons against their will by an armed or potentially armed dangerous person(s).
B. Barricade Situations- The standoff created by an armed or potentially armed suspect(s) in any location, whether fortified or not, who is refusing to comply with police demands to surrender.
C. Sniper/Active Shooter Situations- The firing upon citizens and/or police by an armed suspect, whether stationary or mobile.
D. High-Risk Apprehension- The arrest or apprehension of armed or potentially armed suspect(s) where the likelihood of armed resistance is high.
E. High Risk Warrant Service- The service of search or arrest warrants where the warrant service recommends or requires the use of the Tactical Unit Personnel.
F. Personal Protection- The security of special persons, such as VIP's, witnesses, or suspects, based on threat or potential threat to the well being of those persons.
G. Special Assignments- Any assignment, approved by the Sheriff based upon a high level of threat.
Guidelines for Use
Basic Guidelines for determining if the tactical unit should be utilized are:
A. The suspect has committed a criminal act or is in a dangerous mental condition; or
B. The suspect is believed to be armed; or
C. The suspect has refused to submit to arrest; or
D. By the nature of the situation, an imminent risk is presented to officers or the public.
E. Other criteria for consideration: Search warrant applications; High risk apprehensions, etc.
Composition and Structure
The Carteret County Multi Agency SRT's Tactical Unit is comprised of the following team positions; Tactical Unit Manager, Tactical Unit Commander, Entry Team Leader(s), Rifle Team Leader, Entry Team officers, Rifle Team officers, Equipment/Vehicle officers. As this tactical unit is comprised of officers from multiple agencies, there will be an advisory panel established for the purpose of establishing policy in command and control. The advisory panel shall include a member the command staff of the represented departments.
CARTERET COUNTY SRT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Command Responsibilities
The Tactical Unit Manager will be responsible for updating policy, after action review of all call outs and training and coordinating training programs with the assistance of the Tactical Unit commander.
The Carteret County Multi Agency SRT supports the Incident Command System. The field operations supervisor, who has initial control of the situation, will assume the responsibility of incident commander for operations in situations where the request has been made for tactical unit support. The tactical unit commander or in his absence tactical unit team leader will have operational command over the tactical deployment of personnel. All tactical decisions will be made by the tactical unit commander. All tactical action plans and initiation of said plans will be approved by the Sheriff or his designee.
The IC will establish and operate from a command post (CP). The tactical unit commander will also operate from the command post. The tactical unit commander and field operations supervisor will ensure that consistent and continuous communication occurs throughout the event for all involved personnel. The tactical commander is accountable for the overall operation of the tactical unit. The field operations supervisor/incident commander is responsible for the operations of field units on scene establishing and securing the initial inner and outer perimeters, control zone and traffic control points. Once the aforementioned procedure is established the Tactical Unit Commander will assume command and control of the entirety of the situation.
1. Inner Perimeter - Is defined as a containment area immediately surrounding the situation location that minimizes the movement of a suspect(s) within that area.
2. Outer Perimeter - Is defined as a larger containment area that completely surrounds the inner perimeter and prevents unauthorized pedestrian and vehicular traffic from entering the inner perimeter.
3. Control Zone - The area between the inner and outer perimeters. This area is designated as an area for movement of personnel and resources between the inner and outer perimeters.
4. Traffic Control Points - Those areas which encompass the outer perimeter, manned by uniformed patrol officers which prevent and or divert vehicular and pedestrian traffic around the outer perimeter.
Procedure for Tactical Unit Activation
1. Tactical Unit activation to a critical incident will take precedence over all other non- emergency assignments within the jurisdiction of the Carteret County Multi Agency SRT. The tactical unit can be requested by any officer within the jurisdiction of the Carteret County Multi Agency SRT, requests for activation should be made through the Command Structure of the Sheriff Department to include; Patrol Supervisors, Command staff, Deputy Chief and Sheriff. An exception to this would be a Hostage situation, which would authorize any officer on scene the availability to request a Tactical Unit response.
B. Tactical Unit activation requests outside of emergency situations will be made through the
responsible command staff. This will include, but not be limited to: activations for search warrants, felony arrests, surveillances, etc.
C. Tactical Unit Activation
Upon notification from supervisory personnel or any officer at the scene of a hostage situation that the Department Tactical Unit is to be activated the following procedures will be conducted: The communications division will be responsible for obtaining the incident particulars pertaining to the physical address of the call, call type, and staging area as determined by the on-scene supervisor for the arriving tactical team personnel. The telecommunicator who receives the request for tactical team response will then activate the call out system. It will be the responsibility of the individual team members to notify their agency heads of the call out. When the telecommunicator has completed the callout of personnel, they will contact the Tactical Unit commander and advise the status of the unit personnel response.
D. Patrol Officer Duties
In the event of an in progress violent situation, officers should take appropriate and immediate action to stop the suspect(s) from further assaultive behavior. Officers shall then:
1. Notify a field supervisor of the incident and circumstances.
2. Contain and isolate the incident scene to as small an area as is safe and practical by establishing inner perimeter containment. As time and resources permit, outer perimeter containment should be established to control pedestrian and vehicular traffic into the area. The outer perimeter should be established in such a manner that it affords complete protection to anyone outside the perimeter boundaries.
3. Evacuate injured persons or those in immediate danger as soon as possible.
4. Evacuation of affected residents and businesses within sight and range of the suspect(s) should be accomplished as soon as practical. These persons should be moved to a point beyond the outer perimeter.
E. Field Operations Supervisor
The on-duty Field Operations Supervisor ( IC) Incident Commander requesting the assistance of the tactical unit will be in command until relieved by the tactical unit commander. The field operations supervisor will ensure that the following procedures are initiated:
1. Inner perimeter is established to contain the situation.
2. Outer perimeter is established to prevent entry into the tactical environment by prohibited personnel such as; news media, family members, on-lookers etc.
3. A Tactical Staging Area (TSA) is established.
TSA- Is an area within the outer perimeter that can be utilized as a preparation and briefing area for arriving tactical unit officers.
4. Staging area outside the outer perimeter is established for Emergency Medical and Fire Services and the Media. (Note: it is imperative to protect the integrity and circumstances of any incident until proper notifications of family and entities have been completed. Therefore media personnel will be kept in a separate area from that of EMS and Fire Service personnel.)
5. Will develop appropriate intelligence information on the suspect and target location.
6. Begin or monitor evacuations if needed.
7. Select an initial command post site (considering location, accessibility, and safety) and safe approach route for all responding personnel.
8. Provide detainee transportation, processing and confinement as needed.
The Field Operation Supervisor requesting tactical unit support will brief the initial responding tactical unit officer upon arrival at the scene of any outlining known factors and officer positions. The tactical unit officer will then be responsible for briefing the tactical unit commander upon his arrival. The tactical unit commander will then cause patrol personnel to be replaced by tactical unit officers if man power permits. If patrol personnel are to remain within the inner perimeter they will fall under the command of the tactical unit commander. Control of the inner perimeter will then be released to the tactical unit commander. The tactical unit commander will then direct the activities of the inner perimeter. Traffic control points and outer perimeter security will be maintained by non-tactical personnel and supervised by the field operations supervisor/ incident commander or their designee.
F. Any Agency within the jurisdiction of the Carteret County Multi Agency SRT may request the assistance of the tactical unit in planning or conducting appropriate operations. The Agency Chief will contact the tactical team commander with the request as soon as possible. The tactical team commander, if approving the request, will then submit the request to the Sheriff. The Sheriff or his designee will have the ultimate authority to approve or deny the request. Only the Sheriff, Chief Deputy Sheriff or the Tactical Team Commander can decide to activate a limited number of team members based upon the dimension of the tactical situation.
Mutual Aid
The Carteret County Multi Agency SRT's Tactical Unit is available, with the approval of the Sheriff to any requesting agency in which this department has a signed mutual aid agreement. When a request for the team is received it shall be immediately forwarded to the Tactical Unit Commander who will determine if in fact the situation warrants the activation of the team. If the situation warrants activation of the team, the Tactical Team Commander will contact the Sheriff, if not already approved, and will request the activation of the team. Once permission is granted the activation will follow standard procedures. The Tactical Team will provide either Primary or Secondary assistance as approved by the Sheriff. Primary and Secondary Assistance is described as follows:
Primary Assistance
Primary assistance denotes that the tactical unit shall assume the entire responsibility involved in neutralizing a situation. The personnel utilized in the inner perimeter, or more specifically the primary zone, shall be limited to members of the tactical team or other officers the tactical team commander feels are appropriate. The team commander shall respond to the scene and take charge of the personnel on scene. This does not preclude consultation between the team commander and the representative of the outside agency. The requesting agency must agree to this criteria or the tactical team will decline primary assistance.
Secondary Assistance
Secondary assistance denotes that the tactical team will assume a support role to the requesting agency’s tactical team. The requesting agency will retain complete operational responsibility and control of the incident. The team commander will respond to the scene and will accept mission assignments from the incident commander of the requesting agency. The integrity of the tactical team will remain intact and under the direct supervision of the team commander.
Responsibility of requesting Agency:
1. The on-duty supervisor from the requesting agency will establish:
a. Inner Perimeter
b. Outer Perimeter
c. Control Zone
d. Command Post
e. Staging Area including press contact
f. Begin to develop intelligence information to the situation
g. Begin necessary evacuation
2. The requesting agency will assign a supervisor or command level officer to the command post during the length of the situation.
Selection Process
The Tactical Team will select all prospective members from a valid selection roster created through candidate testing. Prospective members will submit an F-3 application and a letter indicating why they want to become a member and any special qualifications they have to be considered for position with the unit. Tactical Unit testing will consist of specific job/mission related exercises and an oral board. Criteria for application will be based on the following; one (1) year time in service, recommendation by immediate supervisor, exceptional job performance in present and previous assignments, above average physical fitness levels, exceptional firearms proficiency. Candidates may also be considered and appointed to a position on the unit after successful completion of the aforementioned criteria and a 40hr basic SWAT course.
The Sheriff will be the final authority on appointment of officers to the department’s tactical unit.
Once accepted and assigned to the tactical unit, all operational team members, regardless of rank or position, must maintain acceptable standards of performance as are delineated below:
A. Firearms Proficiency
Team members shall be required to maintain at least 93% qualification score on all issued weapon systems.
B. Physical Fitness
All tactical unit officers are expected to maintain an above level standard of physical fitness. Due to the requirements placed on tactical unit officers during the performance of their operational duties, it is recognized that an increased level of physical fitness must be maintained. The level of fitness recognized is based on the minimal job requirements of tactical unit officers of this team. This will be evaluated bi-annually by the Police Officer Physical Agility, (POPAT) test as sanctioned and approved by the State of North Carolina and a 1.5 mile run which must be completed in less than 16 minutes.