Policy Text
GENERAL ORDER #19.02 1
SHERIFF’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
GENERAL ORDER #19.02
Adopted: 8/1/2022 Updated: 7/28/2022 Replaces: G.O. #19.02 dated 2/22 /2010 Reviewed: 7/28/2022
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PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The mission of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) is to provide specialized
support in handling critical and high-risk field operations thr oughout Santa Clara County and in
mutual aid of agencies request ing assistance where sp ecial tactical depl oyment methods beyond
the capacity of field officers appear to be nece ssary. The primary purpose behind the Sheriff’s
Emergency Response Team is to reduce risk to the community, law enfor cement, and suspect(s).
This policy was established in compliance with the guidelines set by the Attorney General’s Commission on Special Weapons and Tactic s 2022 Report and the POST 2019 SWAT
Operational Guidelines and Standardized Training Recommendations (pursuant to Penal Code § 13514.1).
SHERIFF’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (S.E.R.T.) DEFINITION
The Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team is a de signated specialized unit of Sheriff’s personnel
that is specifically trained and equipped to work as a coordinate d team to respond to critical
incidents including, but not limited to, hostage taking, barricaded suspects, snipers, terrorist acts
and other high-risk incidents. As a matter of agency policy, such a unit may be used to serve
high-risk warrants, both search a nd arrest, where public and officer safety issues compel the use
of such a unit.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of this department to maintain the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team
(S.E.R.T.) and to provid e the equipment, personnel resources, and training necessary to maintain
the unit. The Sheriff’s Emergency Response T eam should develop su fficient resources to
perform four basic operational functions:
1. Command and control
2. Containment
GENERAL ORDER #19.02 23. Entry, Apprehension and Rescue
4. Precision Rifle/Observer
It is understood that it is difficult to categorize sp ecific capabilities fo r critical incidents. Training
needs may vary based on the experience level of the team personnel, team administrators and
potential incident commanders.
An assessment should be conducted to determine th e type and extent of S.E.R.T. missions and
operations appropriate to this department. The a ssessment should consider th e team’s ca pabilities
and limitations and should be reviewed annu ally by the S.E.R.T. Commander or his/her
designee. S.E.R.T. members shall follow the policie s and procedures of the team as established
by the team command.
BASIC OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS
1. Command and Control
Planning, organizing, staffi ng, and directing the over all tactical operation
including:
Establishing Incident and Tactical Command
Establishing and relaying the operational goals
Continually assessing the situation as it develops and determining the
appropriateness of the planned course of action
Coordination with support resources such as the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT),
Bomb Squad, Canine Unit, etc.
Coordination with allied agencies
Mission documentation
Communications
Medical support
Mission debriefings
After action reports (AAR)
2. Containment
Control of the inner perimeter
Evacuation
Tactical deliveries
3. Entry, Apprehension and Rescue
Scouting Missions
Breaching
GENERAL ORDER #19.02 3 Enter, search and secure objective(s)
Rescue operations
Subject/suspect detention
4. Precision Rifle/Observer
Intelligence gathering and reconnaissance
Overwatch support
Concealment and camouflage techniques
Precision shooting capabilities
IDENTIFIED MISSIONS FOR S.E.R.T RESPONSE
S.E.R.T. resolves critical incidents beyond the ge neral response capabilitie s of patrol operations
or situations that warrant a coor dinated tactical team approach. Th e following is a general list of
missions typically warranting a S.E.R.T. response:
Hostage rescue operations
Barricaded subject operations
Sniper operations
High-risk warrant services
High-risk apprehension operations
High-risk security and di gnitary protection details
Terrorism response operations
TEAM ORGANIZATION AND COMMAND STRUCTURE
1. Sheriff, Undersheriff and Assistant Sheriff for the Field Enforcement Bureau
For the purpose of mission command, the Sherif f, Undersheriff and the Assistant Sheriff
for the Field Enforcement Bureau, are of an ove rall command status that is separate from
the Operational and Tactical command. The Operations Commander is ultimately
responsible for the mission and all decisions made. Th e Tactical Commander is
responsible for all tact ical decisions. The Te am Leaders are respons ible for carrying out
the tactical decisions. The T eam members are responsible fo r their actions and to follow
orders given by the chain of command. S.E.R.T. is assigned to the Special Enforcement
Division of the Field Enforcement Bureau. Therefore, the Field Enforcement Bureau Assistant Sheriff will be no tified of and ultimately authorize all S.E.R.T. missions.
2. Operations Commander – Captain of Special Enforcement
The Captain of the Special Enforcement Di vision will serve as the Operations
Commander and is responsible