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The
Franklin County Special Operations Unit (SOU) has the responsibility
of answering sensitive, potentially life-threatening situations
utilizing specialized equipment and tactics to resolve them in
a peaceful manner if possible. This responsibility requires a great
deal of training and readiness. Some situations may include; high-risk
warrant service, hostage rescue, building searches for dangerous
suspects, and the tracking of and search for, escaped prisoners
or violent criminals.
The
Franklin County SOU has a variety of extensive training in many
different areas of tactical response. All of the members attend
various schools and training events throughout the year.
The SOU has the ability to conduct operations in both rural
and urban areas. This team is also responsible for providing law enforcement
support to all components of the Sheriff's Department upon request. This includes;
saturation patrols in high activity areas, DUI enforcement, surveillance operations,
marijuana eradication activities, warrant service,
civil process service, conducting training for law enforcement personnel and
providing additional uniformed patrols as requested. The SOU is a primary responder
for natural disasters, civil and jail disturbances, incidents involving mass
casualties and emergency situations. The majority of the tactical responses involve
armed suspects, drug Offenders, mentally impaired individuals and/or domestic
violence situations.
One of the most common tactical situations involves an armed individual
barricaded in a building making threats to kill himself and/or any responding
officers. Frequently, the armed individual is attempting to force the officers
to kill him; effectively committing suicide. The SOU Team has been very successful
in utilizing negotiation techniques and specialized equipment to resolve these
incidents peacefully. On occasion, suspects of violent crimes have also barricaded
themselves in a building in an attempt to evade capture. The team is prepared
to deal with these incidents effectively and with great emphasis on safety. The
Sheriff's Department recognizes that the citizens of Franklin County expect that
high priority be given to situations which create a high risk to them. In addition,
tactical capability is an important part of any professional law enforcement
agency. The primary goal of the SOU is to reduce or eliminate risk to the public
by being prepared to respond to a wide variety of tactical situations. Tactical
capability reduces liability and minimizes negative citizen perception when force
must be used to protect life.
The SOU is minimally staffed with 10-12 officers. The Unit has a
variety of specialized equipment which, when used properly, has been proven to
enhance the safety of high risk situations.
SOU members are equipped with readily deployable equipment that
includes; patrol vehicles with specialized communications equipment, special
protective clothing, highly protective body armor, distraction devices, gas masks,
tear gas, less-lethal ammunition, night vision devices, sniper rifles, door openers,
high angle rescue equipment and bullet resistant shields. Other equipment such
as hostage communications equipment, cameras, extra body armor, equipment for
trapped persons evacuation, an extensive medical trauma first aid kit, night
surveillance devices and other specialized equipment are transported to the scene
in a specially equipped van.
