Emergency Response Unit

The Emergency Response Unit (E.R.U.) is a joint special weapons and tactics team. The team is comprised of deputies from the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Police Officers and dispatchers from the Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Department firefighters and Mayo Clinic medical staff. The E.R.U. is trained to conduct critical incident operations that require the use of specialized equipment and methods to promote safe resolutions. This includes the use of armor, technology, less lethal capabilities and chemical irritant munitions.

The E.R.U. started in 1983 with a handful of Rochester police officers and some additional equipment. Since then the E.R.U. has evolved into a multi-disciplined unit from several agencies that mitigate complex and dangerous incidents that often exceed the capabilities of patrol officers. The E.R.U. trains in compliance with national SWAT standards and stands ready to respond to any event that would benefit from the advanced problem-solving and specialized abilities of its members.