The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team (ERT) has 40 plus members who respond to various “high-risk” situations throughout the County. The Emergency Response Team was formed in 1985 and is one of the most active teams north of the Metro area.
The primary duties of the Emergency Response Team are:
- Respond to situations involving barricaded and dangerout suspects.
- Execute dangerous and high risk arrest or search warrants.
- Crowd Control/Riot and civil protests involving mass arrests.
- Situations where the use of chemical agents are required.
- Provide security for Dignitary protection.
- Respond to Hostage situations.
The Emergency Response Team is on call 365 days a year for not only St. Louis County, but any jurisdiction in the seven county “Arrowhead” area of Northeastern Minnesota. The Emergency Response Team has been deployed for many outside agency assists including Police Departments, Sheriff’s Offices, State Agencies, and Federal Agencies.
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Clan Lab Entry Team Training |
Rappel Training |
ERT Training with Canine |
Each member of the team has highly specialized training in many areas of expertise, and the team trains on a monthly basis. Each member must complete a certified, basic SWAT training course. Additionally, the team trains with numerous other teams throughout the state. Members are voted onto the team by existing team members.
The Emergency Response Team is organized into several sub-teams. These include, snipers, chemical agents teams, scout teams, hostage negotiation teams, entry teams, and command.
In addition, there are other, more specialized team assignments. This would include the Meth Lab Entry Team, and the Emergency Response Team Medical Staff. The Medics are supplied through a mutual aid agreement with the City of Virginia and the Fire Department. The Medics are Paramedics and carry Advanced Life Support at all times. The Medics train in all aspects of the team. The Emergency Response Team also employs a licensed psychologist for various functions.
The team possesses state of the art equipment, vehicles, and weaponry, and has successfully resolved the worst and most dangerous incidents in St. Louis County for over twenty years.