The Mission of the Wood County Sheriff's Department Special Response Team (SRT) is to bring a successful conclusion to critical high-risk situations, through the use of specially equipped and highly trained personnel, in such a fashion as to minimize the risk of harm to the citizens of our community, law enforcement personnel,and suspects. In 1990 the Wood County Sheriff's Department created a special response team to deal with critical high risk incidents. The tactical team has the responsibility of answering to sensitive, potentially life-threatening situations utilizing specialized equipment and tactics to resolve them in as peaceful a manner as possible. This responsibility requires a great deal of training and readiness. Some situations may include: high-risk search and arrest warrant service, hostage rescue, and building searches for dangerous suspects.

The unit is prepared to assume full control of specific tactical situations which, by nature, would be considered excessively dangerous and complex, or which would require the use of a specialized team effort, rather than independent action by individual officers.

The SRT consists of a team commander, training sergeant, team leader, assistant team leader and the remaining team members that make up entry personnel, perimeter personnel and a marksmen team. The Wood County Sheriff's Department maintains trained hostage/crisis negotiators in a separately assigned function. The tactical team trains regularly in special weapons and tactics. The team also trains with other tactical units associated with fellow law enforcement agencies throughout Wood County.

The members of the SRT are assigned to different divisions of the department as their primary duty assignment. The SRT is a secondary assignment for which all members must be a fully qualified law enforcement officer in the state of Wiscosnin and must firearms proficiency qualifications at a higher standard than that of a regular member of the Sheriff's Department.

All team members are volunteers and are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. 

 SRT members train to make a dangerous search warrant entry.

SRT members train during simulated massive drug arrest.

SRT equipment for officers requires in-depth up to date training.

The SRT bus arrives on-scene with the team. The bus was donated to the department and is able to transport the teams tactical/communications equipment, weapons and supplies to the scene rapidly which allows the team maximum effectiveness in virtually any situation. This bus was remodeled and now has three working areas within itself. The front area is a staging area and storage area for equipment. The center of the bus has bunk beds and a small kitchen to maintain the team on scene for sustained periods of time. The bus is also used by the Wood County Sheriff's Department Recue unit.

Command and control equipment from within the SRT bus. All functions of the Department can be carried out from this area. 

When there is an Emergency and all else fails...

Who are you going to call?

Citizens of Wood County can put their minds to ease knowing that a highly dedicated group of law enforcement officers are willing to protect them and put their own lives in danger when danger calls.

Contact Information: Investigator Sergeant Scott Machotka, 

Office Phone #: 715- 421-8708

E-Mail: smachotka@co.wood.wi.us