The Special Response Team is one of the newest specialty units to come on line at the Sheriff's Office.  Clearly... the unit was born out of necessity and the dangerous times we live in.  Think of this unit as a SWAT Team that is prepared and equipped to perform an already difficult, dangerous, and demanding enforcement activity in an environment or crime scene involving biological hazards or hazardous chemicals.  

While the impetus for the formation of this unit clearly came out of the tragic events on September 11, 2001 in New York City and the threats of terrorist activity in any jurisdiction in America, they have already proven themselves in local law enforcement issues.

Members of the team were put to the test when deputies discovered an active methamphetamine laboratory in West Orange County.  One of the deputies and two of the suspects were overcome by the toxic chemicals in the room during the investigation into the suspected laboratory and were transported to a hospital for treatment.  Deputies made immediate arrests following the discovery but had received real time intelligence that another suspect remained inside the motel room where the lab was discovered and refused to come out.

The stakes were raised and the situation became critical when deputies at the scene of the laboratory learned of a telephone call made by the suspect who had threatened to blow up the chemicals believed to be in the room if anyone tried to arrest him.  The SRT was summoned to deal with this dangerous and highly volatile situation. 

They geared up in their protective equipment and made an entry into the room to find all of the chemicals necessary, some of them highly explosive, to produce crystal meth.