Deputies on this team are selected after exhibiting the ability to
meet stringent standards and, once selected, they attend a comprehensive
and grueling two-week basic training course hosted by the Onondaga
County Sheriff's Office. Their duties include handling barricaded
gunmen, hostage situations and civil disturbances, assisting in negotiations
with suicidal persons, apprehending highly dangerous suspects, and
performing high-risk drug raids.
Each
assignment requires careful planning and coordination of the members,
each assigned to a specific team: Entry, Reconnaissance, Marksmen,
or Negotiation. A specific assignment may also require the use of
the Mobile Command Center. Furthermore, members of this team receive
monthly training to perfect the skills needed for these specialized
tasks.