Clarkstown Police's Critical Incident Response Team Earns Certification

Police Chief Michael Sullivan announces that the Clarkstown Police Department's Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been certified by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). 

The CIRT team has been certified after a nearly two-year application process. Clarkstown CIRT is one of only six teams in New York State to receive this recognition. 

The standards were set by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) and the DCJS in 2010. The standards include command and control, physical fitness, firearm qualifications, team and individual equipment requirements and high-intensity training. The training required included four-week SWAT school for all new members, advanced sniper school, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security and incident command schools. This certification recognizes the team for their 25 years of experience performing at a superior level of professionalism and training.  

"As a police chief, I know that in a time of need I have one of the highest trained tactical teams at my disposal.” said Sullivan in his announcement. “This team is another integral service needed to provide safety and security to our 84,000 residents.”

The Clarkstown Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was formed in January of 1991. The part time team consists of members of the department who perform their regular duties and are called out on an as needed basis. The Department recognized a need for a highly trained tactical team to handle high risk warrants, barricaded felons, hostage situations, and executive protection of VIP's.   High standard s were set for members to be part of an entry element, sniper element, and negotiators.   Strict standards were set for physical fitness, shooting skills, tactical movement, mental conditioning, and their background with the department.

The Team is made up of 36 members. 

The team is divided into three sections: Entry, Sniper/ Observer and Crisis Negotiators. Training is conducted twice a month and one full week a year, which follows the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) recommendation for training time.  To date, some of the senior members of the team have well over 3,000 hours of training.  Members have trained with the FBI, NYPD, DEA, LAPD, H and K International Training School, NTOA and the Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

Members of the Team serve as instructors for the in-service police academy and recruit academy and have trained departments and other tactical teams in the southern New York Region. We continue to be the primary instructors in Rockland County for rapid deployment tactics, which teaches patrol officers how to handle active shooters in schools, malls, places of worship and office complexes. The CIRT team continues to have a very good relationship with the school districts in our jurisdiction and continues to provide training to teachers and administrators in lock down and safety hold procedures.

PHOTO: some of the CIRT Team members/contributed