The LPD SORT unit has a fully equipped Van fondly known as "Buford" which houses their mobile response platform with communications equipment, weapons, breaching tools, crowd control equipment, surveillance equipment and the other gear needed to handle special cases of violent crime.
The Special Operations and Response Team stands ready to handle emergencies such as barricaded subjects, hostage situations, heavily armed individuals or groups of individuals, bomb threats, active shooters and other instances of violent crime in our community.
The concept of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) was formulated in the turbulent 1960's as the result of several shooting events on police and civilians and the realizations by police authorities that criminals were becoming better and better armed, better organized and that there were no adequately equipped or trained police units to handle these specialized situations. Today almost all major cities and or counties have SWAT type teams.
Sgt. Amalfitano and Officer Head began their training week on Sunday with a lengthy run through the academy obstacle course in full SORT gear (BDU's, load bearing vest fully loaded with magazines, ammo, water; pistol, radio, baton, handcuffs, flashlight, body armor, boots and patrol rifle or shotgun) and then immediately had to qualify with their weapons and score a 91 or better to just be able to take the course. No small task when you are dripping wet with sweat, breathing hard, heart pounding and every muscle in your body screaming.... Sgt. Ray and Officer "Buddy" both made the grade.
The following 5 days covered topics such as:
SWAT Team Composition and Responsibilities;
Vehicle assaults (with actual practice on cars, school buses and an airplane at the Metro Airport)
Specialized Personal Equipment and Firearms
Operational Fitness and Nutrition
Reconnaissance and Building Mapping
Tactical Planning and Execution
Team Movement
Breaching (mechanical or explosive entry into/through doors and windows)
Less Lethal Deployment (the use of weapons which are designed to be less than lethal and not cause death when properly used)
Room Clearing and Building Searches
The training and certification was conducted in both classroom environment and in real situational settings at the academy facilities and at locations in and around the Metro Nashville area including the Metro Airport. Many of the situational exercises had the officers being awaken in the wee hours of the morning with no warning and being given a situation which they had to handle exactly as they would in the real situation. This meant little sleep and long hours in full gear and on the go for Sgt. Amalfitano and Officer Head.
Both officers stated that the training was extremely rigorous but that they felt very confident in the new skills that they had acquired.
The SORT team and its dedicated members are a tremendous asset to our county. They stand ready to tackle any situation which may arise. They train and practice their SORT tactics, monthly in areas in and around the city of Lafayette in all sorts of scenarios. And they train regularly at schools and seminars on all manner of specialized police techniques. So if you see them out in their black/dark blue BDU's in ole' "Buford" ..... know that they are either on the job or training to be on the job....either way .... You should sleep sounder at night knowing that they are there.
So when you see Sgt. Amaltifano or Officer Head, thank them and congratulate them for completing the training....it's no small thing....and not everyone can do it....sort of like the Marines.
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