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Patrol  Other Specialty Teams |
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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. |
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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.
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2008 Honor Guard Members: Ofc. Ron Tilley, Ofc. Dean Draper, Ofc. Shaney Redmon, Ofc. Mylissa Coleman, Det. Barb Byington, Sgt. Tony Giannetto, Ofc. Wayne Downing
The Spokane Police Department Honor Guard is a detail designed to promote the police department to the public; primarily during ceremonial events. These events include honoring fallen officers and their families. The Honor Guard pays tribute the service and sacrifice of the fallen officer as well as their family. Other details include presenting the colors at official events such as; athletic events, city council meetings, awards ceremonies and retired Spokane Police Department officer’s funerals. The Honor Guard performs special details where a certain protocol exists and where the prestige of Department is on display. This is accomplished through the unit’s ability to represent the department in a coordinated, sharply dressed and disciplined manner.
The SPD Honor Guard was formed just after the death of Detective Brian Orchard (1983). The unit was formed because of the response the department received from other law enforcement agencies around the state and Canada. Originally, the unit wore class dress uniforms and did not carry a firearm. In 1998, there was a joint effort by the Chaplain’s Office and the Department to purchase new uniforms, which allowed the members to wear a ceremonial duty belt and firearm. This is the present day uniform.
The Honor Guard members are chosen from volunteering officers based on their ability to march, their military bearing and their professional appearance. |
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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.
SPD HNT has its own mobile negotiations unit. This vehicle acts as the operations center for the team. The team is able to operate on-site in this converted RV, that has been retro-fitted to include a command area, intelligence center, a recording and evidence section, a tactical operations center and of course a negotiations area. The vehicle is equipped with throw phones, cell phones, and computers to access the local police data bases, school data bases and the internet as well as gang and drug intelligence units. Spokane PD also has an intelligence gathering unit specializing in electronic surveillance techniques that assists our unit. SPD HNT also has on board a consultant psychologist who often assists in training and callouts for advice on dealing with mental subjects. We also have a departmental chaplain who often responds with the team to provide break areas, hydration, food, caffeine, and other needs of the hostage and SWAT teams as well as patrol.
SPD HNT regularly trains a minimum of one day each month, which consists of speakers, scenarios, reality training other units within our department (SWAT, EDU, Dignitary). We also train with other crisis negotiation teams in the Eastern Washington area. Our team attends as many conferences, seminars and training sessions with professionals in our field as possible. All of our negotiators are certified in crisis negotiations (CIT) with mentally ill subjects. This training specializes in drug induced psychoses, suicidal subjects and the wide range of other mental illnesses and intervention skills.
All 10 members of our team (including a sergeant) are dedicated to preserving the lives of all citizens in the community, regardless of the crisis. |
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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 has a second primary mission of training its members in advanced first responder tactics. Members are issued patrol rifles and less lethal munitions to assist with Patrol responses. The team consists of 36 Officers, 3 Sergeants, and one Lieutenant.
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