Special Operations Response Team
Special Operations Response Team SORT (German about: special intervention units ) belong to a series of tactical special forces, which the US Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Bureau of Prisons BOP were launched to ensure security within state-run prisons. SOR teams are highly trained tactical units for intervening in the event of unrest or uprisings within state prisons, in the event of attacks or acts of violence by inmates against staff or by inmates among themselves, outbreaks or attempted breakouts and hostage-taking ; They also support other law enforcement agencies in emergencies.
composition
SOR teams consist exclusively of volunteers from the regular prison staff and are only deployed as a formation when required. This primarily in their own institution, but if necessary also in any other facility managed by the BOP. A SOR team consists of 15 employees from different departments of an institution. Each team has a paramedic, a weapons instructor, precision shooters and observers as well as specialists in abseiling techniques, locking systems, building plans, explosives and chemicals.
education
All SOR teams go through basic training at the Office of Emergency Management , which must be completed with official approval. After that, eight hours of training per month are required; Most institutions invest at least twice as much time in training and further education for their intervention unit, not counting the personal efforts of the individual team members. Such monthly training courses include weapon handling, tactical planning, emergency medicine, abseiling techniques, physical fitness, and learning and consolidating other skills that are deemed necessary. In order for SOR teams to retain their approval, they are required to take part in annual regional exercise scenarios, where their performance is assessed by the Office of Emergency Preparedness according to national standards. Teams that do not pass these scenarios have to complete topic-related supplementary courses in order to achieve the required level of knowledge. In addition, each SOR team must be called up to at least two in-house exercise scenarios each year. Both SORT members and other BOP employees are equipped with pagers through which they can be called in an emergency. In the event of a major emergency, the BOP maintains vehicles with additional equipment throughout the country. Thanks to an agreement with the Department of Defense , the BOP has the option of using military aircraft if necessary to transport SOR teams or operational material.
history
The first SOR team was formed in 1982 at Leavenworth Federal Prison , Kansas . This as a measure against the increasing violence within the prison walls. Shortly thereafter, such a team was formed at Marion Penitentiary , Illinois . Since then, all prisons with medium and high security levels have been obliged to maintain SOR teams.
In recent years, SOR teams have completed numerous assignments with a greater or lesser degree of awareness. In August 1991, for example, Cuban inmates instigated a revolt in Talladega Federal Prison , Alabama , during which they took nine people hostage under their control. The BOP reacted immediately by dispatching several SOR teams, which were supported by the FBI Federal Police's hostage rescue team and some regional FBI SWAT units. After ten days of negotiations, the facility was finally stormed by tactical units and the revolting prisoners brought under control. SOR teams were also deployed during the 1992 Los Angeles riots , where they ensured the protection of federal facilities in the affected areas.
Some of the lesser-known missions include mass moving inmates out of Miami Federal Prison after the facility was damaged by Hurricane Andrew , as well as resolving prison riots in prisons in Oakdale , Lawton and Atlanta .
Uniform and equipment
The uniform consists of black combat suit, black Kevlar helmet and tactical boots. Although equipment may differ from team to team, all SOR teams have Class IIIA vests and tactical shields .
Armament
The armament of a SOR team consists of the Colt 9mm SMG and HK MP5 submachine guns , Benelli shotguns , Smith & Wesson 40s and SIG Sauer P228 pistols, and the M86 precision rifle. This equipment is completed by flash and gas grenades.
swell
- New York Times newspaper report from August 31, 1991 [1]