Joint Special Operations Group

Joint Special Operations Group

The Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) was formed in 2008 by combining the Etowah County Sheriff's Office and Gadsden Police Department SWAT Teams.

JSOG responds to situations that are beyond the capabilities of normally equipped and trained law enforcement personnel dealing with tactical response, hostage negotiations, hazardous materials, and explosive ordinance disposal.

Since its inception, JSOG members have affected the safe rescue of several hostages, arrested numerous violent suspects and earned multiple commendations and citations.

Members of the Joint Special Operations Group are required to maintain the highest standard of physical fitness and firearms. The team consists of tactical operators, crisis negotiators and bomb disposal technicians.

The Joint Special Operations Group is a support resource within the Sheriff's Office. It is responsive to the needs of the entire Sheriff's Office, and is available to any local, regional, state or federal law enforcement agency upon request and approval of the Sheriff.

The services of the JSOG Unit are specifically directed towards situations of demonstrated violence and force, or potential violence and force recognized as necessitating a disciplined team effort utilizing specialized training, tactics and equipment.  The team trains together twice a month.

The primary objective of the Joint Special Operations Group is to solve the problem as quick as possible, using whatever means are available, whatever force is reasonable and necessary, with minimal risk to all involved.

The following are examples of situations that, by their potentially violent and/or specialized nature, indicate the recommendation of JSOG mobilization.

• Armed suspect(s) with hostages
• Rescue of hostages(s), trapped or isolated officers
• Sniper or suspected sniper
• Barricaded gunman or suspected barricaded gunman
• Use of chemical agents
• Service of search warrants on violent or potentially violent suspect(s)
• Arrest of violent or potentially violent suspect(s)
• Man tracking (Escapees)
• Rioting
• Civil disorder.
• VIP security.