Paullina, Iowa — If you were in the Paullina area on Wednesday, you may have seen a large number of law enforcement officers and vehicles.
O’Brien County Sheriff Bruce Devereaux tells us they were members of the area High-Risk Entry and Arrest Team or “HEAT,” along with other emergency responders, and they were doing some training exercises.
The multi-jurisdictional HEAT team is comprised of law enforcement officers from 29 member departments throughout northwest Iowa and southern Minnesota. Membership to the HEAT team is by invitation and HEAT Board of Directors’ approval. O’Brien County Deputy Dan Bracy has gone through all the training and is O’Brien County’s member of the HEAT team.
Specialties of the HEAT team range from the ability to pick a lock for peaceful well checks, to snipers, to paramedics and negotiators. It even has a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) component. Each member is required to train for 10 paid hours each month.
