Media

SWAT Teams Meet To Exchange Ideas and Security Tactics

Release Date: February 23, 2005

Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Germantown Police Department will be teaming up this week to conduct a joint training exercise to enable both SWAT teams to be better prepared to handle crisis and possible terrorist events.

“Just a few weeks ago, General Jerry Humble, the Director of Tennessee's Homeland Security Division, was in Shelby County to challenge those of us in law enforcement to collaborate with each other. This training exercise will certainly help both the Sheriff's Office and the Germantown Police Department meet whatever challenge which might involve the two tactical teams,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

This Friday, February 25, the two SWAT teams will gather at the now closed Wal-Mart Store at 1251 Germantown Road near Wolf River Boulevard. Starting at 9 o'clock that morning, the SWAT teams will conduct various scenarios that involve incidents such as:

• An armed person threatening others
• Building searches
• Distraction devices
• Rescuing a wounded officer
• Use of search/attack dogs during a critical incident
• Incident command communications
• Treatment and assistance for mass casualties

The teams will also be testing the skills of hostage negotiators, SWAT medics and specially trained members of the Metro Gang Unit who routinely respond to critical incidents.

“I can't say enough about the cooperation between the Sheriff's Office and the Germantown Police Department. Should we face a catastrophic event in Shelby County, we intend to be ready. Sharing techniques and getting to know each other before an event will help us be more effective in handling the situation should it occur,” said Chief Richard Hall with the Germantown Police Department.

The SWAT training exercise should last until Noon this Friday.

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