(Wahpeton)– A group of specially trained local law enforcement officers known as LAWS, or the Lakes Area Warrant Service Team, exhibited their skills in a special demonstration for some community members Tuesday in Wahpeton.
The team is comprised of 10 members from the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Spirit Lake and Okoboji Police Departments, along with a paramedic from Lakes Regional Healthcare.
Spirit Lake Police Chief Jon Martyr, an active partner with the LAWS team, says members went through a week of training and certification through the Iowa Tactical Officers Association.
Martyr says the team can respond to local calls within minutes.
Don’t expect to see the team out on the streets every day though. Martyr says the LAWS team will only be activated under certain circumstances. He says they must be requested by an administrator of a certain law enforcement jurisdiction. The callout must be for a critical incident, such as imminent injury or death, a high risk drug search warrant that could involve a lab, etc.
Funding for the LAWS team is provided by the law enforcement agency the officers work for. Martyr says they’ve also received donations from the community. A specially equipped panel truck was donated to the team by Piccadilly Circus Pizza of Milford; Bob’s Auto Body of Milford painted the truck with paint donated by DuPont.
United Community Bank, M-H-R Insurance and other entities have donated money to purchase equipment.
