In 1997, the High-Risk Entry and Arrest Team (H.E.A.T.) was formed to assist local departments with critical, high-threat incidents. The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office joined this regional emergency response unit in 2009. Serving 12 counties across northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, H.E.A.T. is an essential resource for volatile situations that exceed the equipment and tactical capabilities of regular patrol officers.

When H.E.A.T. is Deployed
The team is available to all regional law enforcement agencies to safely resolve high-risk scenarios, including:

• Armed subjects barricaded inside structures.
• Execution of high-risk search warrants involving the threat of firearms.
• Tactical entries into locations containing large quantities of narcotics or hazardous chemicals.

Team Composition & Expertise
H.E.A.T. is a highly specialized, multi-disciplinary unit. Operating under a unified team leader, the unit is comprised of hostage negotiators, snipers, entry specialists, less-lethal munitions experts, a tactical medic, dispatchers, drone pilots, and an administrative liaison.

Rigorous Training Standards
To ensure peak operational readiness, every member must complete a basic SWAT training course through S.O.T.A., an organization specializing in tactical officer development. Because preparation is a top priority, H.E.A.T. members also meet monthly for intense, eight-hour group training sessions.