The Special Operations Division (SOD) was formed on August 1, 2022, to streamline and manage the Department’s specialty assets. The primary mission of the Special Operations Division is to preserve life and property through the use of tactical response, along with search and recovery measures. The Special Operations Division is committed to providing creative, deliberate, and reactive solutions for Department personnel and partner law enforcement agencies through state-of-the-art equipment, extensive training, and thorough planning.
Division Commander:
Captain Matthew Blacklock
Phone: (804) 799-3714
Email:
bfospecialoperations@
vsp.virginia.gov
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 27472
Richmond, VA 23261
Attn: SOD
Physical Address:
Administrative Headquarters
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
North Chesterfield, VA 23235
Tactical Team
The Tactical Team is committed to providing creative, deliberate, and reactive solutions for Department personnel and partner law enforcement agencies through the use of tactics for crisis mitigation. It is a full-time assignment with 70 personnel assigned across seven squads. The team handled more than 1,060 service calls in 2024. More information on the TTP >>>
Search and Recovery Teams (SRT)
The Search and Recovery Team is called upon to conduct underwater criminal investigations and search and recovery/rescue operations. The mission of the Department’s SRT is multifaceted and designed to enable the Department to respond and provide a wide variety of recovery and emergency services throughout the Commonwealth. Their five main capabilities include Underwater Criminal Investigations, Swiftwater Rescue, Land Search and Rescue, Rope Rescue, and Advanced Medical Support. More information on the SRT >>>
Operational Medical Support (OMS)
The mission of the Operational Medical Support (OMS) Unit is to provide pre-hospital emergency medical, health and welfare, safety, and educational support to all VSP operations. OMS program allows the Department to account for all of its Virginia-certified or nationally registered emergency medical technicians (basic, enhanced, advanced, intermediate, and paramedic levels). The Department’s OMS unit is an Advanced Life Support Agency under the Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Our agency, through OMS, has the ability to manage these highly trained and certified assets under the legal protection of an Operational Medical Director (OMD) and the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Service (OEMS) licensure, allowing this unit to support the basic and advanced pre-hospital medical needs, training, and education of our agency. More information on the OMS >>>