Dignitary Protection Team members provide close security to those individuals who need additional protection from harm. These include, but are not limited to local dignitaries, visiting national and foreign dignitaries, high profile speakers, and witnesses involved in high profile criminal and court cases. Persons provided protection might be controversial. Assignments may be both uniform and non-uniform in nature and may include motorcade, site, and personal security.

SPD's current Dignitary Protection Team was formally organized July 19, 1988, and was led by then Lt. Steve Braun. The first Dignitary Protection detail was August 22, 1988, when the team guarded Vice President George Bush on his first visit to Spokane. Since then the team has has the privilege of protecting visiting Presidents, Vice Presidents, Cabinet members, US and Washington State legislative members, Supreme Court Justices, military personnel, governors, international sports teams, foreign Ambassadors and dignitaries, as well as many individual citizens.

The Dignitary Protection Team trains continuously in various advanced tactics to include, threat assessment, firearms tactics, vehicle motorcade and escort techniques, physical and defensive tactics, and cover and evacuation procedures.