On Sunday, March 30, 2014, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit conducted a large-scale scenario based training exercise at Windsor High School. The Special Operations Unit consists of the Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT), Hostage Negotiations Team, Explosive Ordinance Detail Unit, Tactical Dispatchers Team, and Technical Support Team. The Special Operations Unit routinely trains at school facilities, businesses, airports, and residential areas to provide realistic training and familiarity within our community that we protect.
These training exercises help provide the Sheriff’s Office with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to critical incidents, which is paramount in response to school violence incidents and the overall safety of our community. This is recognized by the schools and the Sheriff’s Office who work together to help provide the safest environment possible for our children.
In the aftermath of numerous tragedies at schools across our nation; such as Sandy Hook and Columbine, the Sheriff’s Office has partnered with schools in the county on prevention of school violence. In April 2013, the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Crime Prevention Unit held a training workshop for several school districts in the county on School-Based Violence and Prevention. Working together, the schools and the Sheriff’s Office can prepare to respond to school violence incidents in a swift and systematic manner.
In January 2014, the Office of Emergency Services awarded the “Louis ‘Pete’ Peterka Emergency Management Award” to the following Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office employees for their efforts in leading the school training workshop: Deputy Rod McMasters, Deputy Jesse Hanshew, Sgt. Shawn Murphy, Lt. Clint Shubel, Community Service Officer Jennifer Abrao, and Community Service Officer Charity Koch. Erin Tarkhanian with Redwood Empire School Insurance Group (RESIG) also received the award for her contribution.
The Sheriff’s Office respects the partnerships we have established with our schools and will continue to work with our schools on school based violence prevention, site surveys, safety planning, and training.
Prepared by Lt. Mark Essick
