City, county SWAT teams practice

City, county SWAT teams practice

Mar. 29, 2001

CORTEZ POLICE officers Andy Brock and Randy Mathews, Israel Woodson (in front) and Tom Quinnett (on right) of the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Department make the diamond formation while patrolling the hallway at Montezuma-Cortez High School Tuesday afternoon during SWAT practice.

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Both the city and county special response teams had the opportunity to practice their skills at the Montezuma-Cortez High School Wednesday while students were out on spring break.

"It was with the thoughts of if we have to respond to the school — to familiarize all of us with the way the school is set up," said Cortez Police Officer Diane Fox, who is also the full-time MCHS resource officer.

"Our SRT trains monthly, so they chose that for their training this month. They’ve done it before with the middle school too."

Montezuma County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Kalvin Boggs said the general purpose of the training was to work on team movement and communication when clearing large structures such as the high school.

"With a SWAT mission, you want to make sure your team moves and thinks as one," Boggs said. "And in order to do that you have to have a place to go practice."

The Dolores and Mancos high schools have also been put to use in the same way by the sheriff’s office, conducting similar evening training seminars, Boggs said.

"We’ll use those facilities as well as other big buildings to help train," he said.

Boggs said there are a number of dynamics that go into tactically entering a room.

"If the bad guy knows you’re coming they’re (the SWAT team) going to go dynamic and try to overwhelm him with surprise," Boggs said. "If the bad guy doesn’t know you’re coming, then you want to be on top of him before he knows you’re there."