theordquiz.com

By Kate Wolf
   They look very impressive and just a little bit intimidating in their uniform combat gear: Young, strong, determined, battled hardened by all of the things they’ve seen in the course of their duties as Special Response Team (SRT) members. It’s amazing to watch them in action moving as a team on high alert, focused and formidable as they practice clearing hallways and rooms, tactical trained medics rushing in when a man goes down to run through drills on life saving measures in the field.
   On Wed., Jan. 21, the City of Ord and the Ord Police Department hosted an SRT training exercise in Tactical Med for EMS, first responders, and medical professionals from Valley County Health System, as well as law enforcement officers at the Ord Fire Hall. More than 20 individuals from across Central Nebraska were in attendance. 
   This was not your typical first aid training. It was intense and challenging because they were learning rapid triage and treatment of simulated gunshot wounds, trying to work around 70-80 lbs. of high tech combat gear each officer must carry, and safely securing weapons under extremely stressful situations, as well as removing the wounded to a nearby armored transport vehicle. In the back of their minds is the constant reminder: If we don’t get this right, a law enforcement officer could die. “For us, it is life or death,” instructor Paul Tartaglia remarked. “That’s what we’re practicing here.”
   Tartaglia serves with the Howard County Sheriff’s office and is also Commander for Central Nebraska’s Special Response Team (SRT). He is SWAT certified as Commander, SWAT Team Leader, as well as certifications for Tactical Med Active Threat, and close quarter searches including vehicles. He and Ord’s Chief of Police Branden Stoural recently executed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner with the Central Nebraska SRT. This experience will help to bring the now fully staffed Ord Police Department up to speed for incidents we all hope will never happen here.
   “We’re focusing on what may possibly come from a bullet,” Tartaglia explained. So the medics practice proper tourniquet application, applying vented chest seals, wet wound packing for massive bleeds, as well as field treatment for hypothermia and head injuries.
   Special Response Teams are an elite tactical group that handles high-risk incidents within a law enforcement agency beyond the scope of regular patrol officers. They are called upon for hostage situations, barricaded suspects, high-risk warrants for dangerous criminals, active shooter situations, terrorist threats, dignitary protection, crowd control for large civil disturbances, crisis negotiations, snipers, and canine handlers. Unlike what you might see on TV, that’s not how it happens in real life. It’s slower, more cautious and deliberate, following serious protocols in rapidly evolving, very dangerous situations.
   A Special Response Team consists of a team commander, team leader, assistant team leader, marksman, entry personnel, and perimeter personnel. The requirements are strict and unbending: Superior physical fitness, excellent vision and hearing, impeccable background checks, specialized skills with firearms, tactical, or medical, U.S. citizenship, the highest security clearance for federal roles focusing on high-risk law enforcement and rapid deployment. Two or three years of military or law enforcement experience is often required. They must be willing to be on call 24/7, deploy on short notice for potentially long assignments anywhere in the U.S., twelve hours a day, seven days a week. SRT Training consists of close marksmanship, breaching methods, vehicle interdictions, room entry, as well as building clearance tactics, techniques and procedures. They must maintain peak physical and mental condition through rigorous on-going training.
   “All of these guys are volunteers,” Chief Stoural stated. “They’re here because they like it and they’re good at it.” And they are highly trained. They are our modern day knights in combat uniforms, our safe port in a storm of lawlessness, our true super heroes.
   Following the morning Tactical Med training, the group practiced simulations at the Ord Airport Motel, now owned by Tom Thompson of Triple T Farms and David Creek Storage, who generously provided the setting for these important exercises. So, if you happened to notice a rather large collection of law enforcement cars and one very intimidating armored vehicle in the motel parking lot, now you know what was going on….even super heroes need to practice.