Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT)

The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office established a SWAT team in 1990. At that time it was also known as the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). The Team was comprised of Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and Police Officers from the Surrounding Jurisdictions within the County.

In 2002, The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office Joined with Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office to form a 2 county multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team. In 2023, Wadena and Hubbard Counties joined with Becker County Sheriff’s Office to form what is now known as the Lakes Area SWAT team. This team is made up of Deputies from Wadena, Hubbard, and Becker Counties as well as Police Officers from Departments within those counties. The Team has a Commander, 3 assistant team leaders, operators, snipers, drone operators, k9 handlers, breachers, crisis negotiators, and medic’s.

SWAT

Team Qualifications & Equipment
The Team has been trained and received certification in the use of firearms, less lethal, and chemical munitions deployment and specialized SWAT tactics. The team trains twice a month and has to qualify twice a year with their weapon systems. These qualifications are at a higher standard than normally required for patrol, as well as passing a physical standards test each year. Their training covers rural as well as urban settings, such as the geographical area they serve and protect.

The team is equipped with armored vehicles as well as vans used to transport equipment and team members. The vans can also be used as a command center in the event of a lengthy operations or other emergencies.

Since the counties have combined efforts, the team has been used to execute high risk narcotic related search warrants, such as methamphetamine labs, and marijuana grows, arrest warrants, hostage rescue, barricaded armed subjects, and crisis negotiations.