Rapid Response Team

What Is the Rapid Response Team?

The Rapid Response Team consists of approximately 40 members whose directive is to respond in States of Emergency both local and potentially nationwide. The Rapid Response Team is trained to provide a rapid, organized and disciplined response to civil disorder and public safety emergencies that may occur including but not limited to crowd control, weapons of mass destruction incidents, emergency situations including natural or man-made disasters of various types, and routine local and statewide mutual aid which exceeds the effective ability of local enforcement.

MCSO's Rapid Response Team in the Florida Keys after storm damage

Individual Teams

The Rapid Response Teams are formally structured teams based on a deputies from multiple units and divisions with an assigned leader. Tactics used are based on small squad tactics developed by the Office of Domestic Preparedness as well as the more traditional Mobile Field Force and general police patrol tactics.

A single team generally consists of four squads but its size may vary based on need, funding and the requisite authorization. A team may be supplemented by specialized units of other agencies. Mobile Field Forces/Rapid Response Teams are modular with interoperable equipment, practices, and procedures.

Services

Rapid Response Team will be capable of delivering the following basic, 24/7 law enforcement services within a designated geographic area:

  • Apprehend multiple offenders in crowd situations
  • Control or disburse unruly crowds
  • Isolate areas of civil disorder or disaster by the use of large, organized perimeters.
    • Assist in systematic grid searches
  • Natural disaster response
  • Promoting peace and civil order to protect people and property
  • Provide supplemental law enforcement services to stricken jurisdictions by:
    • Preventing and detecting crime and arrest violators
    • Rendering general police assistance to all in need
    • Responding to calls for service and enforcing the local/state criminal laws if necessary
  • Providing perimeter control/security of high value facilities or supplies
  • Rescue victims or law enforcement officers under hazardous conditions

Since its reincarnation, the Rapid Response Team has organized locally in preparation for several impending hurricanes but also in cases of potential civil unrest and general security. The Team has also deployed throughout the state of Florida to include the Florida Keys in the wake of Hurricane Irma, St Johns County for Hurricane Matthew and Panama City for Hurricane Michael and we were prepped and ready for deployments in North Carolina for severe flooding and Louisiana for another hurricane. Natural disasters aside the team has also been deployed for security and protection during the last two presidential inaugurations and a deployment to Gainesville in preparation for major protests.

MCSO's Rapid Response Team posing in Washington DC prior to the 2016 inauguration

Our Tools and Abilities

In addition to personnel, our assets include mobile air conditioning trailers with reassigned military tent, bathroom trailers and various items self sustaining equipment used in deployments such as hurricanes where major power outages occur. We also deploy high water rescue vehicles from repurposed US military surplus LMTV’s that are able to reach flood zones because of their size and height from the ground.

MCSO's Rapid Response Team in Gainesville