On October 11, 1977 – Seven Sergeants and 24 troopers reported to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, to attend Tactical Team Training. Upon graduation, a sergeant and four troopers were assigned to each of the Department’s six divisions to respond to tactical deployments. Many of these members were part of the previously formed Counter Sniper Teams created in the late 1960s.
Today, the Tactical Team is a specialized and structured component designed to provide the Department and other law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth with effective response solutions. The team is comprised of 70 full-time personnel who are trained and equipped with the necessary tools to manage life-threatening events, ensuring the safest possible resolution. These personnel are assigned to seven squads, each with a specific role.
In 2024, the team responded to over 1,060 calls for service, demonstrating their commitment to public safety. The team is utilized for a variety of incidents, including hostage situations, barricaded suspects, executing high-risk search warrants, searching for violent offenders, providing high-profile dignitary protection, managing riots, civil unrest, and more. The Tactical Team is an essential component of the Department’s overall strategy for maintaining public safety. Through their response, the Tactical Team provides a critical layer of protection to the community, ensuring that situations are managed with the utmost care.
