Behind the Badge: Getting Tactical

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Week nine of the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy focused on the Special Response Unit (SRU), the division responsible for making tactical decisions in high-risk situations.

The evening began at 6 p.m. with a presentation from instructor Melvin Joyner, who introduced students to the tools used by the county’s three certified negotiators. The equipment is designed to help de-escalate crises and encourage peaceful resolutions.

Among the tools demonstrated were drones and a throw phone, a communication device encased in a protective shell that can be deployed into a scene from up to 1,000 feet away. The device allows negotiators to establish direct communication with individuals in crisis.

Instructor Melvin Joyner is one of the three negotiators for the county and shared their duties.

“Our goal as negotiators is naturally, number one, to try to calm the situation down, try to get the person to come out where everybody goes home that night, and the more that we can convince them to come out, let’s end this peacefully, our job was complete,” Joyner said.

Student Benjamin Satterfield said the emphasis on de-escalation was reassuring.

“It’s really nice knowing that their mindset is preservation of life. Not taking life, and that’s what we all hope for our peace officers to do, right? Let’s try and negotiate down to, let’s save a life, let’s end the situation peacefully, versus guns a-blazing, busting doors in,” Satterfield said.

While negotiators aim to resolve situations peacefully, officials said the SRU is prepared to act when necessary. The unit serves as the sheriff’s office’s equivalent of a SWAT team and is tasked with stopping threats when negotiations fail.

Sgt. Eric Wisch demonstrated a range of equipment used by SRU members, including forced-entry tools such as battering rams, riot shields designed to withstand gunfire, and a 40mm launcher capable of deploying gas and less-lethal rounds. Students also viewed firearms used in high-risk operations.

Joyner said these tools surprise many students.

“Well, a lot of people don’t realize how much equipment is involved for a SWAT team. You saw a lot of the gear tonight that they train with. You saw some of the vehicles that they move around in. It’s just an opportunity to show the public this is what we have available to us as tools,” Joyner said.

Participants also had the opportunity to examine SRU vehicles, including CAT One, the sheriff’s office armored personnel carrier.

The session concluded with a demonstration of a flashbang device, commonly used to disorient individuals during tactical operations. The outdoor demonstration highlighted the intensity of the device.

Participant Tim Richardson shared his reaction.

“What we experienced was in the outdoors, but I could try to imagine myself being inside of a room when one of those goes off,” Richardson said.

Satterfield, who said he had prior experience with similar devices, noted the impact.

“It has been a long time since I’ve heard one, especially in a room, and it just kind of brings you back to reality of like, oh dang, that’s way louder than I remember,” Satterfield said.

Joyner said the training and preparation required for the unit is extensive and ongoing.

“This division is very specialized. A lot of training is involved, and not just a one-time training. It’s constantly training, whether it be the negotiators having to go do their training, or our SWAT team members having to go out and fire weapons, do their specialized training. So there’s a lot entailed in this division,” Joyner said.

The Citizens Academy will continue next week with a look at additional divisions within the sheriff’s office, including a tour of the Wichita County Detention Center.