Recognizing that a highly skilled, highly trained police tactical unit would often substantially reduce the risk of injury, and or loss of life in a critical incident, the tactical response team was established in 1999.
The mission of the team is to support the Sheriff's Department or any other requesting police agency with a tactical response to a critical incident. These incidents could range from a basic drug search warrant to a barricaded and armed subject.
The team is currently under the direction of the Detective Bureau Lieutenant, and is comprised of 10 members. Each team member has trained in conjunction with the Oakland and Wayne County Sheriff's Department Tactical Teams as well as the East Lansing Police Department's Tactical Unit.
They've also attended basic SWAT training, as well as advanced schools at Ft. Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan and Ft. Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Missouri. Team members are appointed to the team by the Sheriff and must meet rigorous mandatory training requirements, but above all, they must be a team player.
In addition and working in coordination with the Tactical Response Team, the Sheriff's Office has 6 highly trained crisis negotiators. Each negotiator has been certified by the Michigan Association of Hostage Negotiators and trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in Crisis Resolution. Working with the Tactical Response Team, Negotiators' ultimate goal in every situation will be to resolve the conflict without injury to victims, bystanders, officers, or perpetrators/subjects whenever possible.