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In
an effort to assist departments with high-risk incidents, a regional
emergency response team was formed in 1997. Called H.E.A.T., it stands
for High risk Entry and Arrest Team and it
exemplifies the very nature of the organization. The Dickinson County
Sheriff's Office joined this team in 2009.
The team is available to
all law enforcement agencies needing to resolve high risk situations
for which regular officers may not be equipped. Some of these
situations are, armed subjects barricaded inside a structure,
execution of search warrants where there is the threat of firearms,
and entry into structures where there may be large quantities of drugs
or hazardous chemicals.
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The
team consists of four hostage negotiators, two snipers, an
administrative liaison, two dispatchers, two specialists in less than
lethal munitions, entry specialists and a team leader. All members on
the team are expected to complete a basic training course offered by
S.O.T.A., an organization that specializes in training SWAT officers.
The officers must maintain a high level of physical agility, and twice
yearly are required to pass an agility course. Training is a high
priority, and the team meets once a month for at least eight hours to
train as a group. Every H.E.A.T. team member is expected to qualify
with his or her particular weapon at least four times per year. Some
of the situations for which the team trains include, active school
shooters, hostage negotiations, school bus ground assaults, riot
control, and school searches.
Team members thank all
the individuals and organizations whose support helps to make them one
of the best trained teams in the area.
Photos on this page courtesy of the
Estherville Police Department. |
