Mission: The purpose of the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team is to provide a highly trained unit of police personnel to respond to tactical and high-risk incidents.

Red River Valley SWAT is a multijurisdictional team of professionals from law enforcement agencies in Cass (ND) and Clay (MN) Counties. These personnel are specifically from; Cass County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Sheriff's Office, West Fargo Police Department, Moorhead Police Department, NDSU Police Department and the Fargo Police Department.

Red River Valley SWAT primarily responds to incidents in Cass and Clay counties, but is accessible to other jurisdictions through mutual aid when circumstances warrant.

Red River Valley SWAT is comprised of four Units:

Tactical Operations Unit
The Tactical Unit, generally referred to as the "SWAT Team" is designed to provide tactical support to other law enforcement agencies, assist with executing high risk search warrants, high risk arrest warrants of dangerous subjects, barricaded suspects, building or rural searches for suspects or missing persons, and hostage situations or any incident in which there is an elevated danger to the public. Tactical Unit members are highly trained and qualified in the use of special weapons and tactics to fulfill their missions. Members for this Unit are selected from a highly competitive selection process that evaluates; physically fitness, enhanced sense of safety, and ability to function effectively in a team environment.

The Moorhead Police Department currently has six members assigned to the Tactical Unit, one Lieutenant and five Officers. The Lieutenant assigned functions within Red River Valley SWAT in the capacity of an Assistant Team Commander.

SWAT Negotiations Unit
The Red River Valley SWAT Negotiations Unit is comprised of nine negotiators, eight officers and one sergeant who functions as the Unit Leader. Each negotiator has received training in advanced negotiation methods and is selected based on communication and listening skills. Every member is an experienced officer who brings professionalism and compassion to these roles. Training is conducted on a quarterly basis in conjunction with the tactical support members of the team.

The main purpose of the team is to provide a person that the suspect will see as a safe solution in a crisis. We truly hope that by listening to the suspect, we can guide everyone involved out safely.

The Moorhead Police Department currently has two Sergeants assigned to the Negotiations Unit, one of whom acts as the Team Leader.

Tactical Emergency Medical Service (TEMS)
Medical support is provided by a team of paramedics assigned to Red River Valley SWAT. Six paramedics, three from MeritCare Hospital Life Flight and three from F-M Ambulance, work under the direction of an emergency physician from MeritCare and provide Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS). TEMS has been a part of the S.W.A.T. team since its inception.
TEMS responsibilities include injury control, preventive medicine, monitoring officers' health during training and incidents and health maintenance. The medics train and deploy with the SWAT team and provide on-site medical support for law enforcement, suspects, hostages and bystanders in an unpredictable, sometimes hostile, tactical environment.

The medics have special training in many areas including tactics, building clearing, firearms operations, bullet wounds, defensive tactics, handcuffing/searching, rappelling, K-9 medicine and clandestine lab awareness.

TEMS is a tool used to help the S.W.A.T. team meet its law enforcement and public safety objectives.

Bomb Unit
The Bomb Unit is comprised of 8 members; the Moorhead Police Department currently has one member assigned. Members of the Bomb Unit are highly training in the diffusion of explosive and incendiary devices. The Bomb Unit has a state of the art robot that can be used in a variety of situations to provide support to all four units of Red River Valley SWAT.