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The Humble ISD Police Department
Emergency Response Team consists of select sworn personnel who
have
 received specialized training. ERT officers must complete frequent
firearms qualifications and intensive building search and hostage
situation training. ERT consists of two teams. Each team has
a sergeant who acts as team leader.
The Mission of the ERT Team is to
save lives. To that end, it is the ERT's primary responsibility to
respond to active shooters, barricaded persons, hostage
incidents, emotionally disturbed persons who pose a threat to the
district, and sniper incidents. In addition, the Humble ISD ERT
functions as a mobile, flexible force for special police problems
that require a highly trained, specially equipped and disciplined
unit. Special problems that may require a ERT Team response
include civil disturbances, surveillance, security details, and special assignments from the Chief of Police. ERT members are
officers drawn primarily from the Patrol Division, extensively trained
and functioning part-time, as needed, in their ERT role. The ERT
is a co-lateral assignment
 meaning that team members have regular
assignments such as patrol and detectives. When ERT is activated,
team members are released from their normal assignment until the
ERT operation is concluded. Team members are required to maintain
a high level of physical fitness and firearms proficiency. Team
members attend many hours of training including basic and advanced
SWAT schools and specialized training in tactics, munitions and
firearms.
This tactical unit is specially trained and equipped to
handle
incidents that are beyond the scope and nature of the patrol
division. Their objective is to end 'critical
incidents' safely using advanced equipment, tactics, and knowledge
not
available to the standard patrol officer.
A ‘critical
incident’ is any situation where there is an elevated
risk or potential injury to the suspect, officer, or innocent
bystander, and generally involves an armed person who poses a
significant risk of harm
to himself or others.
Duties &
Responsibilities:
COMMANDER:
The ERT Commander is responsible for presenting tactical
operations for the safe resolution of an incident. Additional
responsibilities range from the selection and
training of a SWAT Officer to
maintaining administrative and logistical records.
TEAM LEADER:
The Team Leader is a senior ERT Officer who has been selected to
command the entry team in a high risk situation.
TEAM MEMBER:
An Officer trained in the use of special weapons and tactics who
is utilized in various capacities which include: inner perimeter
security, building entry and suspect apprehension, hostage rescue,
team security, delivery of chemical agents, anti-sniper
techniques, dignitary protection.
SCOUTS:
A two man team that is sent out ahead of the main body of the team
to ascertain any information that will assist in the safe
deployment of the team.
UTILITY MAN:
The Utility Man carries additional equipment and a fully stocked
back pack and is considered Rear Security for the team. He is
armed with a shotgun to deploy chemical weapons and breaching
rounds.
BREACHER:
Team members that are responsible for forcibly opening secured
doors and clearing blocked avenues of entrance for the ERT team to
make their entry.
GAS TEAM:
Two man teams that deploy chemicals into a structure.
MARKSMAN:
A ERT Officer trained in the use of a scoped rifle.
Potential team members
participate in an exhaustive selection process that includes the
following:
• Physical agility test
• Tactical firearms qualification
• Oral interview with team leaders
• Performance review
• ERT Commander approval
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The ERT Mission
Statement:
Recognizing that the presence of a highly trained,
highly skilled police tactical unit has been shown to
substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to
citizens, police officers and suspects; and recognizing that
a well managed "team"
response to critical incidents usually results in successful
resolution of critical incidents, it is the intent of the
Humble ISD Emergency Response Team to provide a highly
trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for the
Humble ISD Police Department to utilize in the handling of
critical incidents. |
History of the Emergency Response
Team
The idea of a specialized tactical unit has long been
used in the military. As far back as the Revolutionary War, specialized sharpshooters and tactical units were used to handle
situations beyond the training and ability of regular field
forces.
The concept of a Special Weapons and Tactics Team was
first implemented by the Los Angeles Police Department. Since
then, law enforcement agencies across the country have adopted the
concept. No matter which acronym is used (SWAT, SRT, ERT) these
teams of highly trained professionals are used to resolve the most
hazardous law enforcement incidents.
Due to the fact that the Humble ISD Police
Department operates as a specialized police department, the Humble
ISD Police Emergency Response Team has taken the concept of a
traditional police tactical unit and modified the tactics and
operations for a school environment. Our training and
tactical objectives are concentrated in the areas of active
shooter situations, crisis negotiations, hostage rescues, bus
assaults, suicidal persons, natural and manmade disaster
situations and many other areas that would be beneficial to the
protection and safety of the district.
The humble ISD Police Department has trained
with many other tactical operations units in the Houston area
including Houston Metro Police SWAT team (who specialize in bus
assaults) and the Harris County Sheriff's Department Emergency
Response Team (who specialize in the handling of large groups of
people in a crisis situation.)
In our continued growth as a professional
police tactical unit, the Humble ISD Emergency Response Team will
continue to train hard to keep up with the needs of the district.
We are proud to serve you.
Humble ISD Police
341 Charles Street
Humble, Texas
Telephone: 281-641-7900 Fax:
281-446-4044
Police Chief: Solomon
Cook
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