The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team is a law enforcement unit that uses specialized equipment or tactics to handle unique situations. The team trains on a regular basis and is used when called upon for high-risk situations such as search and arrest warrant service, incidents involving barricaded subjects, hostage situations, tactical tracking or any other situation that may require SWAT assistance to the other divisions of patrol, detectives or narcotics. The SWAT team is a regional asset and has responded to assist our local police departments as well as provide assistance to southern Colorado agencies and neighboring reservation police departments.

 The SWAT Team is comprised of a lieutenant, a sergeant, 13 deputies, and three volunteers in support roles. They receive specialized training in movement through buildings, vehicle contacts, officer and hostage rescue, VIP protection, less lethal tools, crowd control, and negotiations. Team members are required to maintain high standards of proficiency with various tools, as well as physical standards above those expected of a patrol deputy.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiations Team works in conjunction with SWAT during high-risk situations. The goal of the Negotiations Team is to resolves crisis incidents while attempting to avoid unnecessary risk to law enforcement, citizens, victims, and subjects. Negotiators train on communication tactics to try and resolve the high-risk situations in a peaceful manner.

The Crisis Negotiations Team is comprised of a lieutenant, 2 sergeants and 8 deputies. Negotiators receive special training in crisis negotiations as well as crisis intervention techniques. The Crisis Negotiations Team is utilized for a variety of calls, to include high-risk warrant service, barricaded subjects and hostage or kidnapping situations.