SRT: Special Response Tactical Team
The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department SRT Team was started in 1996 with 8 entry officers. The SRT Team was trained by the Allen County SWAT team to serve search warrants and dangerous felony arrest warrants. In 1998 the SRT Team attended advanced tactical training by the Fort Wayne Police Department EST Team. This training advanced the SRT Team’s capability into handling most SWAT type situations. In 1999 the Crisis Negotiations Unit, CNT, was developed to aid in hostage and barricaded situations.
The SRT Team averages 20 call-outs a year. Most of the operations that the team handles are high risk
search/arrest warrants. The team also handles barricaded subjects, hostage rescue, and man tracking operations, as well as assisting the IMAGE Drug Task Force.
Our team is equipped with less lethal options along with having a sniper assigned to our team. We have one Commander, one Team Leader, seven entry officers, one tactical medic, three negotiators, and two tactical dispatchers. The SRT Team has four vehicles assigned to the team: a raid van, two military HMMWV’s, and a RV, which is converted into a Command Post/Negotiator Operations Center.
In 2004 our entry team became a multi-jurisdictional team with the addition of two Angola City Police Officers. There are currently three Angola City Police Officers assigned to the team. The CNT Team is comprised of two Steuben County Deputies, as well as one Angola City Police Officer. The Tactical Medic is a Reserve Deputy as well as an Angola City Firefighter. The two Tactical Dispatchers are from the Steuben County Communications Department.
In 2004 the SRT Team joined up with Auburn ERT, Noble County SOG, and the LaGrange County CRT to form the Northeastern Indiana SWAT Team. In 2007 DeKalb County SRT formed and joined the NEI SWAT team.
Every year the SRT Team organizes a golf outing that takes place in August. This is our only funding source to buy new equipment and to replace
old equipment. The team also utilizes the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office to obtain surplus military gear.
The SRT Team averages 20 call-outs a year. Most of the operations that the team handles are high risk
search/arrest warrants. The team also handles barricaded subjects, hostage rescue, and man tracking operations, as well as assisting the IMAGE Drug Task Force.
Our team is equipped with less lethal options along with having a sniper assigned to our team. We have one Commander, one Team Leader, seven entry officers, one tactical medic, three negotiators, and two tactical dispatchers. The SRT Team has four vehicles assigned to the team: a raid van, two military HMMWV’s, and a RV, which is converted into a Command Post/Negotiator Operations Center.
In 2004 our entry team became a multi-jurisdictional team with the addition of two Angola City Police Officers. There are currently three Angola City Police Officers assigned to the team. The CNT Team is comprised of two Steuben County Deputies, as well as one Angola City Police Officer. The Tactical Medic is a Reserve Deputy as well as an Angola City Firefighter. The two Tactical Dispatchers are from the Steuben County Communications Department.
In 2004 the SRT Team joined up with Auburn ERT, Noble County SOG, and the LaGrange County CRT to form the Northeastern Indiana SWAT Team. In 2007 DeKalb County SRT formed and joined the NEI SWAT team.
Every year the SRT Team organizes a golf outing that takes place in August. This is our only funding source to buy new equipment and to replace
old equipment. The team also utilizes the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office to obtain surplus military gear.
