Special Operations

Aviation Unit

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit provides assistance to law enforcement agencies throughout the county and surrounding counties with routine patrols, arrest assists, vehicle and foot pursuits, searches for missing children and endangered adults, educational presentations, aerial photography, disaster assessment, aerial surveillance and other missions as directed by the Sheriff.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit is part of the Special Operations Division under the command of Capt Ed Allen. The unit is under the direct supervision of Chief Pilot Steve Farris.

Deputy Sheriff Farris has been the units Chief Pilot since 2002. C/P Farris along with all the full time men and women of the unit are sworn law enforcement officers in the State of Florida.

The Aviation Unit consists of Nine (9) full time members, Five (5) Pilots and Four (4) Flight Officers. The unit also consists of Two (2) part time Pilots and Twelve (12) part time Flight Officers.

In the unit are Two (2) Certified Flight Instructors (CFI). The unit prides itself in providing in house flight training for its new Pilots in training.

The Sheriff’s Office operates two helicopters; an AS350B3 “A-Star” and EC-120B pictured above.

	Each aircraft is outfitted with a 30 million-candle power searchlight, a color camera with F. L. I. R (Forward Looking Infra Red), digital recording system, microwave downlink and Lojack vehicle recovery equipment.
	Each full time crewmember is trained and certified in the use of night vision goggles (NVG). NVG’s enhance mission effectiveness by providing crews with the ability to covertly observe criminal activity, increase visibility during search and rescue operations and assist crewmembers in detecting hazards and obstructions to flight.

These aircraft enhance the unit’s multi-mission capability and provide the support necessary to keep up with the ever changing technological advancements of airborne law enforcement

Specialized missions include:

Fire Suppression	Swat Operations	Rescue Hoist operations

 

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit was created in May 1995 after the Army downsized their fleet of helicopters. The unit received two OH-58 helicopters for a minimal fee and immediately refurbished them. When the work was completed the helicopters were placed in service to assist not only the Sheriff's Office, but also the surrounding municipalities and counties upon request.
	From August 1999 through December 2005 the Sheriff's Office joined forces with the Seminole County Fire Department to provide emergency medical transport with the acquisition of an Army surplus UH–1 (Huey) configured for EMS operations. Air Rescue 3 was staffed by Fire Department Flight Medics and Sheriff’s Office Pilots.

Marine Unit

The Marine unit is tasked with the enforcement of Marine and Agricultural rules and regulations, as well as enforcement of laws relating to environmental crimes. The Marine unit consists of a Lieutenant, Sergeant, three full-time deputies, three part-time deputies and four reserve deputies. In addition to the above functions the unit also assists the Disaster Response Team, Underwater Search and Recovery Team (Dive Team) and coordinates the Civilian Search Team assisting with major searches for missing persons, evidence and similar situations.

Personal Watercraft Regulations

Marine and Specialized equipment

The unit maintains and operates

4- patrol vessels
2- airboats
3- shallow water boats
2- personal watercrafts
6- all terrain vehicles
8- 4 wheel drive trucks (light duty)
10- 6x6 cargo trucks (heavy duty)
Several others mission specific tactical vehicles

Contact: Lieutenant Mike Weippert, 407.708.7617

Canine Unit

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit has five full service patrol teams and one specialty patrol team (Bloodhound) assigned to the unit. The canine teams respond to calls for service from all other units within the Sheriff's Office and surrounding agencies. Common searches by canine teams include narcotics, evidence, fleeing suspects, explosives, and missing person searches. The canine teams are assigned rotating shifts during the day and nighttime hours. The canine unit currently utilizes three German Sheppards, two Belgian Malinios and one Bloodhound.

Contact: Lieutenant Mike Weippert, 407.708.7617

 

Emergency Services Section

SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team)

The Seminole County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was founded in 1975 to address the rising need for a more tactical law enforcement response to critical incidents involving armed subjects. In 1985, participation in the SWAT Team was opened to qualified law enforcement officers from the municipalities within the county. This multi-jurisdictional approach provides for a larger number of candidates and fosters partnerships between the Sheriff's Office and the seven Police Departments in Seminole County.

This group of specially trained and equipped members, serve on the team in addition to their normal assignments. Candidates applying for the team are evaluated, during an application process, on their physical fitness, firearms proficiency, critical decision making, leadership and team work skills. The final phase of the application process includes a review of their personnel file and an oral interview with the Team Leaders and Team Commander.

In addition to frequent firearms training, specialized training for the team members may include; waterborne operations, rappelling, breaching techniques, specialty munitions operations, rural tracking operations, dignitary protection, high risk warrant service and hostage rescue. In addition, team members are capable of conducting many of these operations while utilizing protective respiratory and clothing ensembles if the incident involves the release of hazardous materials or Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The SWAT Team not only assists agencies within Seminole County, but has also been called upon to assist surrounding Sheriff's Offices, and State and Federal agencies as well. It also participates in the State Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region 5.

 

 

 

In the event of a critical incident, the team is activated and members respond from their daily assignments to the incident. The SWAT Team is assisted by members who provide specialized support including Tactical Vehicle Operators who respond with specialty vehicles including two armored rescue vehicles. Technical Support Team members assist with surveillance and other technological equipment. Also assisting the SWAT Team on critical incidents is the Crisis Negotiation Team.

Contact: Captain Ed Allen, 407.708.7601

Crisis Negotiation Team

The Crisis Negotiation Team consists of 14 men and women trained in the area of negotiating critical incidents to a successful conclusion. The Crisis Negotiation Team works in concert with the SWAT and MIIT, Major Incident Intelligence Team in response to critical incidents involving barricaded subjects and hostage takers. Members are provided basic and advanced training in addition to in-house training conducted monthly.

Contact: Lieutenant Sonia Pisano, 407.444.0568

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team

Members of the EOD Unit respond to a scene after a suspect IED (improvised explosive device) or other explosive is located. The function of the EOD team is to detect, identify, evaluate, render safe, recover, and dispose of IEDs, transport it, and conduct preliminary examinations of the device prior to submission to the crime lab.

Members of the EOD Unit undergo intensive training in the use of their equipment and in the recognition of improvised devices and commercial ordnance. They learn various techniques used in dealing with improvised and clandestine explosive devices, this includes identification and disablement of various bomb components.

All members of the unit have completed their Basic EOD Training at the Redstone Arsenal Army Base, located in Huntsville Alabama. This training, provided by the FBI free of charge to the Sheriff's Office, consists of four weeks of extensive, hands on training in various topics relating to explosives and explosive effect. There they learn about explosive safety, and applied techniques involving the use of explosives to destroy explosives and explosive devices. They are required to demonstrate proficiency on a live demolition range. They are also required to be qualified SCUBA divers and must maintain proficiency in this specialized area.

Members of the unit have learned the proper use of and must demonstrate proficiency with various EOD tools and techniques. Personnel protection and safety are stressed. Members are required to identify and deal with various chemical and biological weapons, demonstrating personnel protection, and EOD emergency response procedures. As members of the EOD unit, they are required to be on call at all times, available to respond to a scene at a moments notice.

Contact: Investigator Mark Hamilton, 407.623.1060

Emergency Management Section

Disaster Response Team

The Disaster Response Team is a group of specially trained and equipped Sheriff's Office members capable of supporting disaster response operations to include light search and rescue support, disaster sight security, and staffing for County Points of Distribution (for food, water and ice). DRT assignment is in addition to the member's normal assignment. They are on call 24/7 and are capable of deployments regionally or nationally if necessary, for a period of 10-14 days on average.

The Disaster Response Team is structured to be as self sufficient as possible when deployed. Logistical support functions within the team allow them to provide hot meals, sleeping facilities, showers and bathrooms, vehicle fuel and maintenance capabilities and enhanced communications. Each member of the team is required to complete specialized training to include First Aid and CPR, POD Operations, Chainsaw Safety Tand Operations as well as training in the National Incident Management System and the National Response Plan. Specialized positions within the team may also require training in Forklift and Heavy Equipment Operations or CDL Drivers License.

Picture upper left: Seminole County Sheriff's Office DRT Members supported the response operation during the Groundhog Day tornados in Volusia County (February 2, 2007) by deploying personnel and the mobile kitchen trailer. Hot meals were provided for all responders at the start of each shift.

Picture lower right: Seminole County Sheriff's Office DRT Members supported the Urban Search and Rescue teams during the Groundhog Day tornados in Volusia County (February 2, 2007) by providing four wheel ATV transportation into areas not accessible by vehicles.

Contact: Captain Ed Allen, 407.708.7603