The Emergency Crisis Unit is an elite team of
extraordinary deputies who are available for immediate call-out 24
hours a day. The Sheriff's Office insists on highly trained and
motivated deputies who must demonstrate their physical fitness,
agility, and endurance in a strenuous physical test to qualify for
the team. The team trains together as a unit and strives to provide
Columbia County citizens with the best protection available.
To prepare for any situation that may arise, ECU team members have
trained with various state, government, and local agencies. All team
members are instructed in less than lethal munitions, impact
weapons, and gas deployment. Many of the deputies have received
certification and instructor certification in specialized schools
and their expertise is utilized to educate other team members. The
ECU has been deployed to various situations that include; barricaded
suspects, hostage situations, and high risk warrant services. They
are also utilized for covert field intelligence gathering.
Another special function of the Emergency Crisis Unit is to
negotiate or "talk" barricaded individuals out of their situation.
Several Deputies have had specialized training in negotiation
techniques. It is their job to settle the problem in as peaceful a
manner as possible so that no one gets hurt. First and foremost, the
ECU will consider hostages, innocent victims and bystanders. The
unit will clear the area, establish an area of control and attempt
to establish communication with the barricaded person by phone,
verbal conversation, or face to face interaction. The Emergency
Crisis Unit will exhaust all avenues to ensure the release of
hostages and then subdue the barricaded individual peacefully before
they consider the use of any kind of force. |
