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Sheriff Ricky W. Chastain
implemented a Special Operations and Response Team (S.O.R.T.) in June, 2007. The
focus was to provide a tactical response to the following: hostage incidents,
armed barricade incidents, high risk warrant service, high risk vehicle stops,
dignitary protection, surveillance assistance, and any crisis situation deemed
appropriate by the Sheriff.
 The team is comprised of 18 members, four
Laurens County Paramedics and fourteen highly motivated deputies,
that are assigned regular law
enforcement duties within the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and are
activated if needed. The goal of the team is to resolve critical
incidents with a high degree of tactical precision and professionalism. S.O.R.T.
works very hard to resolve highly complex and dynamic situations.
Before being chosen as S.O.R.T. members, candidates undergo highly competitive
selection processes. If selected,
new team members receive specialized training in high risk warrant service,
hostage rescue, barricaded suspect extraction, and other high risk situations.
Once this training has been successfully completed, Team members are assigned a
variety of special weapons and receive additional training on an ongoing basis.
Members maintain high levels of physical fitness, practice tactical
response to high-risk incidents and to sharpen skills in handling special
weapons.
Through
professionalism, dedication, training and state of the art equipment, the
Special Operation Response Team will continue to react to the mission with
enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism.
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