KANDIYOHI COUNTY

Specialized Tactical Assistance Team (STAT)

Annual Report 2007

The Specialized Tactical Assistance Team (STAT) is a volunteer support group organized under the Kandiyohi County Sheriffs Office to assist the Sheriffs Department and Willmar Police Department in tactical operations. The primary mission of the STAT team is medical support for any injured or ill hostages, bystanders, officers or suspects. A secondary mission is to support the Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team and Police Department ERT team with general medical support, hydration / nutrition needs and any other support duties needed at a tactical event or training.

In 2007, the STAT team was called on 3 separate times to assist in tactical team operations. Two missions involved high risk search warrants and a third for a barricaded and suicidal person. All incidents were resolved safely and only support care was needed by the teams.

2007 HOURS TOTALS:

Callout Hours                                                              36.5 cumulative

Training Hours with SWAT / ERT                             72 hours

Specific STAT training hours                                     12 hours____________

Total                                                                           120.5 volunteer hours

AGENCIES ASSISTED:

Kandiyohi County Sheriffs Office

Willmar Police Department

CEE-VI Drug Task Force

Swift County Sheriff’s Office

Appleton Police Department

The STAT team is currently made up of 9 members, with a combination of Emergency Medical Technicians, trained to Intermediate level or with additional IV therapy training, and Paramedics. All training and callout hours are without monetary compensation.

Special Weapons and Tactics Unit

SWAT

 2007  Annual Report

The following is the 2007 activity for the Sheriff’s Office specialized tactical unit.

The team is made up of twelve (12) members of the Sheriff’s Office.   All members are fulltime licensed Deputy Sheriff’s.  The members are trained throughout the year in special tactics and weapons that would be needed in certain incidents that the Sheriff’s Office responds to.  Also, attached to this unit is an eight (8) member volunteer medical support unit called STAT.   The volunteer medics respond to all tactical calls for the Sheriff’s Office and Willmar Police Departments ERU Team.  They train with both units and also receive specialized training in emergency trauma and tactical medical care

The unit responded to the following calls for 2007:

• Two   (2)              Narcotic Warrants

• One   (1)               Barricaded Suspect

Both high risk narcotics warrants were conducted in Kandiyohi County.  Both warrants ended with the suspects being arrested without incident, and controlled substances being located by narcotic agents.

The barricaded suspect call out was an assist to Appleton, Minnesota—Swift County Sheriff’s Office.  The stand-off ended after 6 hours of the SWAT Unit planning, securing and setting up to make contact with the suspect.  The suspect gave up with no incident, after contact was made with him.  The SWAT Unit had an opportunity to work with the West Central SWAT Unit—during this event.  The West Central unit is made up of officers from Stevens, Big Stone and Pope Counties.  A 30-06 caliber high power rifle, with armor piercing ammunition was located in the residence after the suspect was taken into custody.     

SWAT unit members are required to attend six training session through out a calendar year.  Besides the scheduled session, each officer dedicates numerous hours over and above the call.  Each officer has to meet physical fitness requirements and tactical firearms proficiency, to remain on the tactical team.

Besides training with Willmar PD’s ERU Team, we had an opportunity to train with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions Tactical Team this year.  Our officers always enjoy training with other agencies.  We get to see others tactics and share our tools and trade with them.

Sheriff Hartog allowed the Unit to participate in a SWAT Challenge this fall, in Fergus Falls.  We went up against 6 other Tactical Teams, from across Minnesota.  Considering this was a first time for us in this type of training and going into it cold--we felt we did very well; coming home with a 4^th place as a team. 

The tactical officers and I would like to thank the administration of the Sheriff’s Office, the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners and the Citizens of Kandiyohi County for their continued support.