SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM

The Stillwater Police Department (SPD) Special Operations Team (SOT) was formed in August of 1986 in order to effectively deal with special situations which might require police response outside normal, daily police operations. The team is commanded by Sergeant Jeff Watts and has 15 people assigned to the unit at full strength, including two medics from the Stillwater Fire Department. SOT is divided into two sub-teams, with each one having a medic and a two man sniper team assigned to it. Stillwater SOT is a part-time, on call unit that an officer must volunteer for outside of their normal job assignment. Special situations which may require specialized training, tactics, and teamwork in order to protect lives and property, might include:

• Barricaded Subjects                                                            

• High-Risk Warrant Service

• Building Search for Armed Suspects

• Airport Tactical Situations

• Civil Disorders/Riots

• Special Events/V.I.P. Protection

• Disasters/Civil Defense Emergencies

• Undercover Surveillance/Stakeouts

• Drug Raids

Upon encountering a situation that may require the activation of the SOT (otherwise known as Special Weapons And Tactics), team personnel report to a designated assembly location for coordination and briefing. Team leaders then form a plan of action for the type of situation to be handled and deploy special weapons and equipment to other team members. Upon approval of the operational plan, the team will stand by until receiving instructions to deploy or implement the plan. Ultimately, the authorization for SOT implementation rests with the Chief of Police or designee.

When satisfied that all suspects are in custody and no further threat exists, the team commander turns control of the scene over to the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) for processing.

Then, after securing from the scene, SOT personnel report to the team commander and/or investigator for debriefing.

Training

Aside from the training and experience individual members bring to the team, each member must also successfully complete a 40-hour basic course in special operations and tactics; whether provided through in-service training or by an outside authority. Some of this training includes:

• Firearms Proficiency
• Physical Fitness Training
• Sniper School
• SWAT School
• Bomb School
• Hostage Negotiations
• Drug Identification School
• Self Defense
• Non-Lethal Weapons

Furthermore, SOT members receive continuing in-service training at a minimum of once a month, plus one week a year as a unit. These training topics and schedules are planned in advance by team personnel, and are held in conjunction with other Department members and/or units, and other law enforcement agencies and tactical teams.

Selection

Stillwater SOT is a highly motivated unit. In order to be considered for inclusion into the Special Operations Team, an applicant must be a non probationary officer in good physical condition, and have demonstrated proficiency with departmental weapons. All applicants may then submit a written request for consideration, which includes a resume' of previous training and experience, and a recommendation from the applicant's immediate supervisor. Furthermore all applicants must take a physical agility test, which consists of a timed run, timed pushups and timed setups.

Finally each applicant must submit to an interview board before final selection by the Chief of Police. Inclusion into the SOT can be a difficult process. This ensures that SOT members will effectively deal with special situations in a safe manner, and ultimately protect innocent lives and property while apprehending criminal suspects. For more information on the Stillwater Police Special Operations Team please contact Sergeant Jeff Watts at jwatts@stillwater.org or at the Stillwater Police Department 701 S. Lewis Street P.O. Box 1725 Stillwater, OK 74076 (405) 372-4171.