The primary purpose of the Montebello Police Department's Special Response Team (SRT) is to save lives. This includes the lives of both law enforcement personnel and members of the community, whose security may be threatened by hazardous situations. This is accomplished through the deployment of selected personnel who are highly trained and equipped with appropriate resources.
The formation of the SRT has evolved from the premise that a team of highly motivated and well-conditioned individuals, specially equipped and trained to function as a tactical unit, can be more effective and safely employed to confront highly dangerous criminal activity and other critical events.
The presence of a highly trained, highly skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to civilians, police officers, and suspects. In addition, it is recognized that a well-managed response by tactical units to critical incidents usually results in successful resolution of such events. It is the intent of the Montebello Police Department's SRT to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for the police department in the handling of critical incidents.
The presence of a highly trained, highly skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to civilians, police officers, and suspects.
Although SRT is a highly specialized unit, its mission is to professionally represent the department and support the department's goals. SRT officers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. SRT officers understand they are role models and it is important to maintain a positive demeanor and have a cooperative spirit with all members of the department and community they serve.
To be a member of SRT requires a high level of commitment and is a voluntary assignment. All SRT members must train regularly as individuals and as a team. Members of SRT must regularly prove their physical fitness, firearms marksmanship and mental fortitude through rigorous training and qualifications. The SRT is available as an additional resource to be deployed, at the request of the patrol bureau, investigative bureau as well as mutual aid requests to assist in dealing with the following:
- Barricaded suspects, where it is believed a serious crime has occurred, the subject is suicidal, or extenuating circumstances exist.
- Hostage situations.
- Arrest and/or search warrant situations, where the suspect has demonstrated, or there is information suggesting that the suspect has a propensity toward violence, is armed, or is in a location that has been fortified.
- Executive and witness protection.
- Criminal disturbances or other situations which require an immediate resource of tactical personnel.
- Other unique critical situations.