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| Special Response Team |
SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM
The Cheshire Police Special Response Team (S.R.T.) was established in 1981. In early years the team was comprised of volunteer officers who had to solicit funds and gear from the public to equip the team. Since that time the team has evolved into a select group of officers who are trained and equipped through the police budget as well as from a yearly monetary gift from Elim Park Baptist Home. From it's inception the S.R.T. has trained in tactics to resolve various incidents, such as hostage and/or barricaded suspect incidents, felony warrant arrests, building searches, body searches and riot control.
At the present time the S.R.T. is an eleven-man unit, which is made up of officers from the Patrol, Traffic and Detective Divisions. The team is still completely voluntary with officers receiving no additional compensation. The team commander is Lieutenant Timothy Rodgers. Second in command is Lieutenant Jay Markella. The S.R.T. is divided into two specialized teams to carry out certain assignments. There is an Entry Team (Youth Detective William Fountain, D.A.R.E. Officer Mark Ecke, Training Officer James Nemphos, Sergeant Michael Strollo, Sergeant Chris Cote, Officer Brian Schechter). and a Sniper Team (Detective Sergeant Thomas Bobok & Officer Kerry Nastri).
All S.R.T. members have attended an FBI SWAT School. The S.R.T. snipers have also attend the FBI Sniper School. The team has three certified firearms instructors, two certified gas munitions instructors, a less-lethal instructor, a distraction device instructor and two Taser instructors as members on the team.
The special weapons and munitions used by the S.R.T. are stored in a secured area of the police department. Only top department administration and S.R.T. personnel can gain entry to the S.R.T. Office. The Team is also equipped with a Ford Utilimaster Van for storage of supplies and team transportation. The van, which cost approximately $43,000, was purchased through money given to the Town by the State of Connecticut.
Although the number of incidents in which the S.R.T. has been activated has been low, it has responded to both a hostage and a barricaded suspect incident, it has assisted in the service of felony arrest warrants and there have been a number of body searches and building searches conducted by the team. The team is also part of a mutual aid agreement with the South Central Region and has responded to Meriden, Wallingford, and East Haven Police Departments to assist when requested. Due to the knowledge gained through training and the equipment purchased over the years the Cheshire Police S.R.T. Team, is poised for the next century
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