Kosciusko County Jail
Sheriff's Emergency Response Team
With constant pressure on the proper and judicious use of force in restraint of inmates by jail officers, from the administration, media, and lawyers, Emergency Response Teams (ERT) are becoming more necessary today than ever before.
The SERT members are trained in Defensive Tactics, Advanced Defensive Tactics, Use of Riot Baton and Short Baton, Drill and Formations, Firearms, Distraction Devices, Alternative Force Methods, Electric Body Immobilization Devices, legal and liability issues and chemical munitions. The purpose of this training program is to train the officers as a precise, well trained and professional unit that is able to handle most types of correctional emergencies and situations that could occur in a correctional institution.
In every correctional facility, there is the potential for inmates to disrupt daily operations. Although most situations can be handled by officers and supervisors, many cannot. When it is apparent that there may be a condition 
developing that shows a high risk of injury due to weapons or a large scale disturbance, the ERT unit would be called.
The origins of the ERT unit for the jail began in spring of 2004 when it was proposed to the Sheriff. In January of 2006 the SERT team became officially active and commenced training. What started out as an 8 officer unit became a 13 officer team composed of officers of all shifts and ranks. Certifications came from Delaware County and Hamilton County Sheriff Departments, respectively.
