Selection Process:
Officers testing for a position on the Tactical Enforcement Unit must successfully complete a:
Duties:
The unit handles circumstances such as armed barricaded suspects, hostage situations, V.I.P. security, fugitive warrants, large-scale riots, terrorist activities, and executes all high-risk search warrants for the department and the Metro Vice/Narcotics Unit.
The unit also conducts risk assessments on local schools, government buildings and other high profile locations. These assessments compile crucial information that is helpful when responding to and managing critical incidents at specific locations. The Tactical Enforcement Unit averages 120 high-risk operations per year.
In April 2003 the Tactical Enforcement Unit absorbed the part-time Special Response Team positions, bringing the full-time team to fifteen officers and one Sergeant.
The Central Division K-9 Unit is deployed with the Tactical Unit on a variety of tactical operations.
The department also has a pool of trained negotiators. A team of four negotiators respond with the Tactical Unit during critical incident activations.
Medical support for the unit, while on tactical operations, is provided by paramedics from the Colorado Springs Fire Department (TEMS). These paramedics consistently train with the unit in team movements, officer/citizen rescue, and other job related tactics. TEMS is a routine activation for all high-risk operations.