On April 20, 1999 the nation was shocked by the terrifying images brought to all of us on television of two students in Colorado at Columbine High School armed with firearms and explosive devices killing fellow students.  Within months several other incidents were reported across the nation where students in schools were found to be in possession of firearms and explosives with the intent of following through with similar plans.  At this time the Sheriff’s Office recognized the need for a team of specialized law enforcement personnel with the training to handle such an incident if it were to occur in Steuben County.

In 1999 the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office founded the Critical Incident Response Team.  At the time of the teams founding, Sheriff Joel Ordway was then the Chief Deputy at the Sheriff’s Office and was put in place as the CIRT Team Commander.   Over the next several years the team grew in experience and gained the tools and equipment needed to complete tasks assigned to them.  The team acquired a Mobile Command Post, tactical training, and other equipment necessary to become a fully operational tactical team.  The team has developed even further over the past several years with setting a high standard for all team members to abide.  The team has acquired specialized weapons and a mobile robot to aid in any incident that may arise.  In 2004 the Sheriff’s Office put into place this Operations Policy that would insure further movement forward and solidify these higher standards.  Such requirements as physical training standards and firearms proficiency were already in place, but general operating orders were introduced for all team members to adhere to.

The basic rank and structure of the CIRT Team is comprised of 12 full-time members of the Sheriff’s Office which is divided into two separate team elements.  Each team element has a Team Leader and an Assistant Team Leader who direct the team members as a cohesive unit when being deployed.  Each element is also equally comprised with specialized weaponry and each element has a precision shooter and team medic assigned. 

The CIRT Team has a strict training schedule and each team member trains for 10 hours each month on specialized tactics and with the specialized weaponry.  The CIRT Team has also trained with several other specialized tactics teams on the State and Federal Level including the LAPD Swat Team, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Army Rangers. Rochester Police Department SWAT Team, Wayne County SWAT Team, Alleghany County Tactical Team, Ithaca Police Department SWAT Team, and several others local police agencies.  The CIRT team has also provided training to several other local police agencies in regards to the rapid response plan for an active shooter, at no cost to the local police agencies.  

As the CIRT team rapidly approaches its 10th anniversary, it has been deployed to over 25 actual incidents and has been utilized by several other local law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police, Corning Police Department, and Bath Police Department.  The CIRT Team has also trained with and has an agreement with the VA Center in Bath to be utilized as the tactic response team should the need arise on the Federal Reservation.

The CIRT Team acquired a new Mobile Command Post in 2008 to replace the aging Mobile Command Post refurbished when the team was founded.  This new Mobile Command Post in the past year has been deployed to numerous scenes being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office and other local police agencies.