Special Emergency Response Team
Encyclopedia
The Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was the RCMP
counter-terrorism
unit which existed until 1993. Its duties were then taken by the Canadian Forces
in the form of Joint Task Force Two(JTF-2).
SERT was formed in the 1980s, but its history can be traced back to the Emergency Response Team (ERT) that took shape in 1976 to deal with hostage and rescue patrol unit (HARP). The primary purpose for the creation of the SERT team was that it was determined at the time that neither the regional police SWAT teams, nor the ERT teams were properly equipped to deal with counter terrorism activities. Members were drawn from the countries various ERT teams, and recruits were subjected to a physically and mentally grueling selection process.
SERT was disbanded, reportedly, due to conflicts the RCMP and certain agencies within the Canadian government saw between the lethal mandate of the team, and the mandate of the RCMP as a police agency to save and protect life. During the transition between SERT and JTF2, RCMP operators from SERT were used as subject matter experts and as members of the training staff. Training and handover of operations took place at Dwyer Hill. The RCMP
still maintains a national network of special operations
units called the Emergency Response Team, usually aligned with the Force's geographic divisions. (i.e., "F Division covers Saskatchewan; "D" Division covers Manitoba.)
JTF-2 now uses SERT's former training base near Ottawa
at Dwyer Hill.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
unit which existed until 1993. Its duties were then taken by the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in the form of Joint Task Force Two(JTF-2).
SERT was formed in the 1980s, but its history can be traced back to the Emergency Response Team (ERT) that took shape in 1976 to deal with hostage and rescue patrol unit (HARP). The primary purpose for the creation of the SERT team was that it was determined at the time that neither the regional police SWAT teams, nor the ERT teams were properly equipped to deal with counter terrorism activities. Members were drawn from the countries various ERT teams, and recruits were subjected to a physically and mentally grueling selection process.
SERT was disbanded, reportedly, due to conflicts the RCMP and certain agencies within the Canadian government saw between the lethal mandate of the team, and the mandate of the RCMP as a police agency to save and protect life. During the transition between SERT and JTF2, RCMP operators from SERT were used as subject matter experts and as members of the training staff. Training and handover of operations took place at Dwyer Hill. The RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
still maintains a national network of special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
units called the Emergency Response Team, usually aligned with the Force's geographic divisions. (i.e., "F Division covers Saskatchewan; "D" Division covers Manitoba.)
JTF-2 now uses SERT's former training base near Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
at Dwyer Hill.