Shakopee Police Department 2020 Annual Report

SWAT

By Sgt. Derek Nordtvedt

Tri-City Tactical Team (TCTT) is a multi-jurisdictional special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit that responds to critical incidents in Scott and Carver counties. The team is comprised of Scott and Carver Sheriff’s Offices, Prior Lake, Savage and Shakopee Police Departments. The team has 28 deputies and officers, as well as tactical paramedics from Mdewakanton Public Safety.

In 2020, Shakopee Police Department had six officers assigned as tactical operators and one officer on the crisis negotiations team. Sgt. Nordtvedt and Officers Englin, Kerr, Goette, Goerish and Penning served on the tactical team, attending monthly training and specialized training for individual assignments. Operators specialize in topics such as the ballistic bunker, gas munitions, less lethal munitions, precision long rifle and more. All the team operators receive training in many specialty areas including: hostage rescue tactics, high-risk warrant service, slow and deliberate searching techniques, distraction device/chemical munitions deployment, firearms training and qualifications, wooded area/open field search tactics, breaching/ballistic shield operations, VIP/dignitary protection tactics, Coast Guard Marine patrol techniques, tactical scouting and reconnaissance. The Tri-City Tactical Team also trains with South Metro Tactical Teams (Richfield, Bloomington, MSP Airport, Burnsville and Eagan police departments) and attends an annual four-day training conference at Camp Ripley. Due to COVID-19, this annual training was canceled.

Members of the Shakopee Police Department train with other local law enforcement officers as part of the Tri-City Tactical Team.

Members of the crisis negotiation team also train on a monthly basis to develop and practice their skills. Officer Schmidt of the Shakopee Police Department is one of eight negotiators on the team.

The Tri-City Tactical Team had 11 team activations in 2020. A high-risk warrant for a homicide suspect, high-risk warrant for a suspect involved in a shooting, domestic/hostage call and a dignitary protection detail were just a few of the activations.

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