SRT/SWAT.
Recognizing that the presence of a highly trained, skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, police officers and suspects; and recognizing that a well managed “team” response to critical incidents usually result in a successful resolution of critical incidents, it is the intent of the Madison County Sheriff’s Response Team (SRT) to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for Madison and Fremont Counties in the handling of critical incidents.
The Madison/Fremont Sheriff’s Response Team’s (SRT) purpose is to resolve dangerous situations safely, without injury to anyone. They respond to high-risk situations that are outside the normal resources and immediate capabilities of patrol teams.
The Sheriff’s Response Team is made up of deputies from Madison and Fremont counties. The two counties recently combined resources for effective use of tax payer’s money in training and equipment and overall operating costs. To become a member, the candidates must go through a competitive selection and testing process. Once selected, each member must successfully complete a basic SWAT operator’s school, as well as pass ongoing performance objectives twice a year in critical tactical skill areas.
SRT training covers many different skills and tactical elements. It includes specialized training to enhance personal and overall team capabilities. Training is ongoing, with focused training drills occurring once every three weeks.
The SRT members are also involved in many other aspects of the community including teaching classes within the citizen’s academy and youth camp as well as providing SWAT demonstrations, teaching stranger danger and other public safety oriented courses to schools, civic and church groups.
SRT members are very proud to serve in this capacity in helping to keep our communities safe while dealing with sometimes very fast moving and highly volatile situations. We are constantly training in all the schools in the school districts to prepare for situations that sometimes arise in those locations. Many of the tasks SRT is called to resolve include crisis negotiations, barricaded suspects, bomb threats and narcotic investigations requiring search warrant service. All of the deputies who volunteer for the team believe in keeping our communities safe and drug free.