High Risk Unit

The High Risk Unit or HRU, provides 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.  Only the Chief of Police or his designee can authorize the use of the High Risk Unit and only after a Risk Assessment is completed. 

When fully staffed the High Risk Unit is comprised of up to 26 Officers and volunteer staff.   The team is broken into groups forming Entry Teams, Sniper Teams, and Negotiators.  All members of the High Risk Unit serve in other primary positions throughout the day to day operations of the police department, but can be activated and subject to recall to the High Risk Unit when needed.  Officers selected to the High Risk Unit have successfully gone through a physically and mentally competitive selection process.  

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

1. Hostage Situations
2. Barricaded Suspects
3. High Risk Warrant Service
4. High Risk Apprehensions
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 regulations, current requisitions through the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office (DRMO) are included at the bottom of this page.