New Tactical Team Trains in Jones County

By Justin Foss, Reporter

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By Justin Foss

Story Created: Mar 10, 2009 at 7:37 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2009 at 1:36 AM CST

First off, this is a story you need to see to fully appreciate.

ANAMOSA - Three people are being held hostage on a school bus in Anamosa.

Within seconds, the newly formed Jones County Emergency Response Team has the situation under control.

That's easier said than done. This group of law enforcement from five different communities in Jones County says situations like these are sometimes the hardest to fight.

"There's not wrong ways, not right ways, but there are better ways," said Corey Roberts, trainer for the team.

One of the better ways is to handle a situation right away. And that means not waiting long for law enforcement to arrive.

This unit has been training for the last eight months. They formed the unit because before this, a tactical unit like it would have to come from Marion, 12 miles away or the state patrol, which sometimes took two hours to respond.

In the audience today was the mayor of Monticello, one of the towns covered by the new team.

"I hope we never have to use it, but if it does, I hope it will benefit everybody," said Mayor Don Miyagawa.

"Being able to do it with a school bus is a realization, a lot of the guys on the team, we have kids go to school in some of these districts. And if something were to happen with the kids in our community, they would expect us to step up and respond to it," said Roberts.

Now, with a tactical unit closer to home, law enforcement will be able to respond sooner than ever.

The Jones County Emergency Response Team gets limited funding from each of the five agencies involved, and through donations of equipment and money.

Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com

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