Special Response Team (SRT)

The Special Response Team is classified as a FEMA Type 1 SWAT Team and serves as one of the
Weapons of Mass Destruction Regional Response Teams for South Carolina. SRT has one full time
team and two part time teams comprised of sworn deputies who are chosen to serve on the team in
a voluntary capacity. In addition to the Special Response Team, team members perform their duties
in full time positions within the Richland County Sheriff's Department. These divisions include, but
are not limited to: Uniform Division, CAT, Drug Suppression Team (DST), Traffic Division, K-9,
Narcotics, Internal Affairs, Reserve Program, Training Division, Crime Scene Lab, and DEA Task
Force. Special Response Team Members are on call bi weekly throughout the year enabling them
to respond to pre-planned and call-out operations.

The team also provides mutual aid for the military installations in Richland County as well as
providing assistance for other State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies with operations in
Richland County.

Mission:
It is the mission of the Richland County Sheriff's Department Special Response Team to provide
protection and safety for ALL our communities, citizens and law enforcement personnel while
reducing the possibility of injuries or death during high risk incidents.

Examples of High Risk Incidents include but are not limited to: Hostage Situations, Barricaded
Suspects, High Risk Search and/or Arrest Warrants, Armed Suspects, Sniper Situations, Anti
Terrorism Events, Active Shooter Situations, Dignitary Protection Events, High Angle Assaults,
Waterborne Assaults, and Civil Disturbances.

Training Requirements:
Members on the Special Response Team are expected to perform at a higher standard due to the
danger and complexity of the missions presented. Members on the team are required to pass a
quarterly physical fitness test and an annual 40 hour recertification qualification in order to retain
their position on the team each year.

Duties & Responsibilities:

RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM COMMAND ORG CHART
SRT COMMANDER: The SRT Commander is a full time position and is responsible for all the teams within
the Special Response Team, overseeing all SRT operations, develops and executes Incident Action Plans
for pre-planned and call-out operations, develops and implements all selection criteria for new candidates
trying out for the team, and assists with selecting new candidates for the team. The SRT Commander also
conducts all the internal yearly training for the members on the team.

ASSISTANT SRT COMMANDER: The Assistant SRT Commander provides assistance with monitoring
Incident Action Plans during operations, assists with new candidate tryouts, selecting new candidates for
the team, conducting yearly internal training for the team members, and assumes the duties and
responsibilities in the absence of the SRT Commander.

ENTRY TEAM LEADERS: Entry Team Leaders are senior SRT Operators who have been selected by the
SRT Commander to lead their team during operations in accordance with the Incident Action Plans. Team
Leaders are responsible for maintaining their team's operational readiness at all times and assist with new
candidate tryouts and new team member selections.

ASSISTANT ENTRY TEAM LEADER: The Assistant Entry Team Leader performs the duties of an
operator on the Entry Team and provides assistance to the Team Leader with monitoring Incident Action
Plans during operations, assists with new candidate tryouts as well as new team member selections.
Assistant Team Leader also assumes the duties and responsibilities in the absence of the Entry Team
Leader.

ENTRY TEAM OPERATOR: Entry Team Operators receive training in special weapons and tactics and
secure the crisis site during high risk SRT operations.

TACTICAL SUPPORT TEAM: Tactical Support Team Operators are responsible for assisting with logistics
as well as providing security on a primary perimeter at a crisis site during SRT operations. The operators on
the Tactical Support Team will be promoted to an operators position on the Entry Team when a position
becomes available.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT / TEAM: Technical Support Team Operators assist the Incident Management
Team (IMT) with SRT Technical Support, driving the SRT vehicles to and from SRT operations, maintains
and issues specialized SRT equipment during operations, ensures the SRT special vehicles are
operational, and provides information technology and communications support for SRT during operations.

SNIPER/OBSERVER: Sniper Team Operators provide surveillance intelligence gathering through stealth
and direct visibility for SRT operations and for other divisions within the Richland County Sheriff's
Department. These operators also provide security protection for innocent civilians, first responders and
SRT operators during high risk operations

MEDIC TEAM: The Medic Team is a part time team comprised of an Internal and External Team. Internal
Medics are Reserve Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff's Department and provide emergency
medical care for the SRT members during High Risk Operations. External Medics perform full time duties
with Richland County EMS and are not armed officers. These medics provide emergency medical care in a
hot zone when security is provided by SRT operators.

EOD / BOMB TEAM: The EOD / Bomb Team

is comprised of a full time commander and
several part time technicians. Part time
technicians still hold full time positions within
the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
These technicians assigned to the EOD/Bomb
Team are certified at the State and Federal
level to handle suspicious or found devices,
post blast occurrences, suspicious packages,
explosive breaching, and underwater
explosives.