Sheldon, Iowa — At their regular meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Sheldon City Council heard from Estherville Chief of Police Brent Shatto about the regional HEAT team, making the case for the Sheldon Police Department to join that team.
HEAT stands for “High-risk Entry And Arrest Team,” and following the presentation and a few questions from the council representatives, the Council unanimously voted to allow the Sheldon PD to join that organization, something City Manager Sam Kooiker calls a “positive development” for the City.
HEAT is a group of specially trained law enforcement SWAT-type officers who respond to various high-risk types of events in and near the jurisdictions of the agencies that make up the team. Kooiker recalled an incident in Sheldon in which a HEAT team was utilized.
He says the team is comprised of officers from several agencies.
Kooiker says joining the HEAT team will allow the Sheldon Police Department to be better prepared for any situations they may encounter.
Initially, the Sheldon Police Department will have one officer on the HEAT team, joining O’Brien County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Bracy on the team, as well as personnel from departments in Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet Counties, along with several agencies from southwest Minnesota.
