Central Montana High Risk Unit

The High Risk Unit (HRU) was created to provide the Great Falls Police Department and the citizens of Great Falls with a highly trained and equipped team of officers to respond to incidents where the risk to the public or the need for specialized training and experience exceeds the capacity of standard police response. 

The High Risk Unit was formed in 1995, a year after GFPD Officer Shane Chadwick was killed in an ambush and the suspect then barricaded himself inside his apartment.  In 2024, the Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) entered into an Interlocal Agreement creating the Central Montana High Risk Unit (CMHRU) - a multi-jurisdictional team that effectively responds to serious criminal occurrences in both the city and county.  Only the GFPD Chief of Police or his designee can authorize the use of the CMHRU.    

When fully staffed the Central Montana High Risk Unit is comprised of 25 GFPD Officers and 8 CCSO deputies.  The team is broken into groups forming Entry Teams, Sniper Teams, Crisis Negotiation Teams and Support personnel.  All members of the CMHRU serve in other primary positions throughout the day-to-day operations of the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, but can be activated and subject to recall to the High Risk Unit when needed.  Officers selected to the Central Montana High Risk Unit have successfully gone through a physically and mentally competitive selection process.  

The Central Montana High Risk Unit is part of a total crisis management team tasked with handling situations that include, but are not limited to:

1. Hostage Situations
2. Barricaded Suspects
3. High Risk Warrant Service
4. High Risk Apprehensions/Arrests
5. Terrorism Incidents
6. Recovery Operations (both civilian and law enforcement)
7. Mutual Aid Requests
8. Other circumstances and situations where the unit or portions thereof may be useful.

HRU Requisitions: In compliance with federal and state regulations, current requisitions through the Defense Logistics Agency/Law Enforcement Support Office/1033 Program are included at the bottom of this page.