The Spokane Police Department has several other Specialty Teams  - Patrol Division

Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU)

The Explosives Disposal Unit is a cooperative effort between the Spokane Police and the County Sheriff’s Departments. Its mission is to render safe any explosive device or explosive material, and investigate items that are found and believed to be explosive in nature. The Unit combines technicians and command staff from both departments, with a present total of ten technicians. A technician from the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also attached to the team. The E.D.U.’s primary responsibility is within the Spokane City and County, but it acts in cooperation with federal agencies to provide service throughout the region of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The Explosive Disposal Unit—often called the “bomb squad”—is one of the busiest specialty units in the department with 92 call-outs for 2006. E.D.U. also conducts 23 team training events per year as well as conducting training for other law enforcement agencies, businesses, etc. The F.B.I. has the responsibility of certifying bomb technicians for police departments throughout the United States. The F.B.I. Hazardous Devices School is located at the Redstone Arsenal, near Huntsville, Alabama. This course is designed to familiarize officers with the tools and equipment that are used in this highly specialized field and provides basic skills that are necessary to become a bomb technician. Technicians must demonstrate proficiency with electronics, x-ray interpretation, hazardous materials, W.M.D. and other job related skills. Technicians must re-certify every three years by returning to HDS and passing performance and written exams. A three day Executive Management Course is also presented at the Redstone Arsenal to provide law enforcement CEOs a perspective on squad operations. Technicians assigned to the Spokane Explosives Disposal Unit are also licensed to perform demolition work by Washing State Department of Labor and Industries. Technicians are given national guidelines for training, and by meeting the above requirements, maintain the squad’s national accreditation. Accreditation is required for the squad to function. The Spokane Explosive Disposal Unit passed an accreditation inspection by the F.B.I in 2004. In addition, each member of the team is required to medically certify prior to being accepted to basic school, and prior to being accepted for re-certification training. Since the purchase of S.C.B.A. equipment to work as first responders in a W.M.D. event, team members are required to meet physical guidelines yearly. The Unit’s training and discipline is such that no person has ever been injured when the Unit was in action with explosives.

Hostage Negotiations Team

The HNT provides specialized skills needed in crisis diffusion and acts in cooperation with other specialty units within the Spokane Police Department (SPD). Additionally, the HNT has the priorities of preserving the lives of hostages, police, public and suspect(s) in crisis situations.

Tactical (TAC) Team

The TAC Team is a unit specializing in crowd management (e.g., at demonstrations, rock concerts, special events, etc.) and civil disturbance response and control. The unit consists of 36 officers, 1 sergeant, and one lieutenant. Currently, the SPD TAC Team is the only team from a Washington agency providing instruction through the Washington State Training Commission on riot control tactics and civil disturbance tactics.

Dignitary Protection

Dignitary Protection Team members provide close security to those individuals who need additional protection. 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, US and Washington State legislative members, generals, governors, international sports teams and many individual VIP's.
The Dignitary Protection Team consists of 1 Lieutenant, 1 Sergeant, and 9 members of Officer, Detective or Corporal rank. The team trains monthly in various advanced tactics to include, threat assessment, firearms tactics, vehicle motorcade and escort, physical and defensive tactics and cover and evacuation procedures.