GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | CERT AND TACT UNITS Correctional Emergency Response Team MISSION To maintain well-trained and highly motivated units, ready to mobilize upon command and move quickly to restore law and order within facilities and assist all departmental staff with daily organizations and operations of the facilities. OVERVIEW 28 CERT teams Traditional team has 5 members (team leader or Sergeant and four Correctional Officers) Team size may be increased at level five facilities Outfitted in gray battle dress uniforms with untraditional patches Receives extensive training on managing non-compliant offenders in day to day facility operations Receives advanced training in cell extractions, chemical munitions, less lethal escorts and transports, offender searches, interview and interrogation techniques, intelligence gathering and Security Threat Groups Conducts shakedowns Shakedown is an unannounced procedure conducted to detect and prevent the introduction of contraband, prevent escapes and other disturbances and discover hazards to health or safety that may go unnoticed during a routine inspection On call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 28 Teams in the DOC: Arrendale State Prison Augusta State Medical Prison Autry State Prison Baldwin State Prison Burruss Correctional Training Center Calhoun State Prison Central State Prison Coastal State Prison Dodge State Prison Dooly State Prison Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (2 teams) Georgia State Prison Hancock State Prison Hays State Prison Johnson State Prison Lee State Prison Macon State Prison Phillips State Prison Pulaski State Prison Rogers State Prison Rutledge State Prison Smith State Prison Telfair State Prison Valdosta State Prison Ware State Prison Washington State Prison Wilcox State Prison REQUIREMENTS POST certified employee in a security position with the rank of Correctional Officer I Must successfully complete the Special Operations Physical Fitness Test (push-ups and sit-ups for a duration of 2 minutes and a 2 mile run) with a minimum score of 60 percent according to the Army Physical Fitness Testing standards Successfully qualify with their duty weapon with a minimum score of 80 percent on the Georgia Double Action Course Endure a formal review board Members must maintain physical fitness and firearms standards Attend certificate training sessions TRAINING Special Operations Basic Course 40 hour basic course Physical and demanding training Classes administered: Defensive Tactics Chemical Agents and Less Lethal Munitions Drill and Ceremony Squad Formations Mobile Field Force Cell Extractions Intelligence Gathering Auto Pistol Transition Advanced firearms course Successfully qualifies and transitions each member from the standard departmental issued duty weapon 38 revolver to the Glock The Glock is the preferred duty weapon Tactical Squads MISSION To maintain well-trained and highly motivated units, ready to mobilize upon command and move quickly to restore law and order to disturbed facilities and assist outside law enforcement. OVERVIEW 30 squads 23 based at facilities 2 statewide tactical squads (Cobra Units) 5 regional Probation Operations Tactical teams 11 members (Cobra exception with 12 members) Outfitted in black battle dress uniforms with untraditional patches Receives extensive training on riot and crowd control, firearms, chemical munitions, and other less than lethal munitions Highly scrutinized to guarantee they have the proper personnel in place to carry out the highly difficult tasks Responsible for hostage rescue Conducts shakedowns Shakedown is an unannounced procedure conducted to detect and prevent the introduction of contraband, prevent escapes and other disturbances and discover hazards to health or safety that may go unnoticed during a routine inspection re to follow instructions Assists in local community during disasters such as: tornados, hurricanes and floods On call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Squads in the DOC: Augusta State Medical Prison Autry State Prison Baldwin State Prison Central Probation Tactical Team Coastal State Prison Cobra Unit 1 (Statewide Tactical Squad) Cobra Unit 2 (Statewide Tactical Squad) Dodge State Prison Dooly State Prison Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison Georgia State Prison (houses 2 Tactical Squads) Hancock State Prison Hays State Prison (houses 2 Tactical Squads) Johnson State Prison Lee/Calhoun State Prison (combined with members from both facilities but is housed at Lee State Prison) Macon State Prison Northeast Probation Tactical Team Northwest Probation Tactical Team Phillips State Prison Rutledge State Prison Smith State Prison Southeast Probation Tactical Team Southwest Probation Tactical Team Telfair State Prison Valdosta State Prison Ware State Prison Washington State Prison Wilcox State Prison REQUIREMENTS POST certified employee in a security position who ranks from Correctional Officer I to Lieutenant/Probation Officer to Chief Must successfully complete the Special Operations Physical Fitness Test (push-ups and sit-ups for a duration of 2 minutes and a 2 mile run) with a minimum score of 60 percent according to the Army Physical Fitness Testing standards Successfully qualify with their duty weapon with a minimum score of 80 percent on the Georgia Double Action Course Endure a formal review board Members must maintain physical fitness and firearms standards Attend certificate training sessions TRAINING Special Operations Basic Course 40 hour basic course Physical and demanding training Classes administered: Defensive Tactics Chemical Agents and Less Lethal Munitions Drill and Ceremony Squad Formations Mobile Field Force Cell Extractions Intelligence Gathering Auto Pistol Transition Advanced firearms course Successfully qualifies and transitions each member from the standard departmental issued duty weapon 38 revolver to the Glock The Glock is the preferred duty weapon Judgmental Use of Deadly Force Advanced firearms course Teaches judgment when deciding on when to shoot and when not to shoot while utilizing the Glock 1/2015