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The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to include members of other law enforcement agencies in the county.
The Anoka County Board has approved joint powers agreements with the cities of Anoka, Blaine, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Ramsey and Lino Lakes for officers of their police departments to become part of the SWAT unit.
The city councils of all these communities have signed off on the joint powers agreement.
The sheriff’s office created the highly-trained SWAT unit in 1980 to serve the entire county, but until now it has been exclusively staffed by sheriff’s deputies.
While it currently has more than 20 members, they also have other assigned, regular duties, days off, vacation time and cannot respond to all calls, according to Sheriff Brad Wise.
The goal is to expand the unit to a tier 1 team, which is defined by the National Tactical Officers Association as having at least 34 members, while a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) tier 1 unit has at least 29 members.
The increased membership will create a regional asset, improve relationships and skill levels within agencies, as well as make it eligible for federal grant dollars, Wise said.
Anoka Police Department has had its own SWAT unit for a number of years, so there will be a seamless transition into the new countywide team, he said.
Twenty-one officers from the other six agencies have tested for 12 tactical officer spots and four for five negotiator positions, with 11 tactical and two negotiator applicants selected, according to Wise.
They are now in specialized training under the leadership of SWAT commander Lt. Derek Schuldt of the sheriff’s office.
These officers will continue to handle regular shifts with their own police departments, but will be on call for SWAT unit operations and monthly training, Wise said.
The participating cities will pay the county $3,500 for each tactical officer, $750 per negotiator and a $150 per year member fee for insurance to help cover liability for the team and member agencies.
In addition to the annual payment, each agency will cover the cost of overtime for callouts and overtime.
Membership in the multi-jurisdictional team will enhance inter-agency relationships, communications and operations, according to Coon Rapids Police Chief Bill Steiner.
The expansion, which will cover all of the county, will provide “one more tool in the tool box,” said Commissioner Julie Braastad.
It is important to open the SWAT unit to other cities, said Commissioner Mandy Meisner.
According to the sheriff’s office website, the SWAT team, which includes tactical operators, tactical paramedics and negotiators, is available to any law enforcement agency that has an incident requiring a tactical response beyond that provided by patrol officers.
It is most frequently used for high-risk search warrants, often assisting the Anoka Hennepin Drug Task Force, and for people who have barricaded themselves, the website states.
SOURCE: NEWSBREAK
