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Left to right: Det. Dep. Major, Lt. Jones, Sgt. Crane,
Det. Dep. Katz and Det. Dep. Carey.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office Corrections Emergency Response Team responds to incidents at all three Detention Facilities in the Florida Keys. Their duties include incident's involving violent or uncooperative inmates who refuse to comply with orders from Detention Deputies within the facility. The purpose of the team is to handle such incidents using the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve the situation while still maintaining the order and control required within a detention facility.
It is the policy of the MCDC to train and maintain a minimum of six (6) officers as Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) members per shift. These team members will perform the duties of the team as required by the Shift Supervisor within the scope of the teams' training. Each and every member will be required to continue their training as scheduled by the team coordinator.
According to the present standards, the minimum training requirement is eight (8) hours per month which includes, but is not limited to, cell extraction and joint training with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Special Weapons and Tactics Team.
Monroe County Department of Correction CERT Team was first formed in early 1994 as Special Emergency Response Team (SERT). In order to meet the over increasing demands placed on the modern corrections facility, a new style of training was needed, therefore CERT was formed.
Assigned duties of the six team members:
1. Team Leader "Leads". S/he must have superior spoken communication skills, excellent anger de-escalation techniques, and be able to give the team specific commands under stress.
2. The Equipment/Video Member "EQV" is a critical component to the Unit. S/he much be able to maintain control of him or herself under extremely stressful conditions while capturing the entire response on video tape.
3. CERT Member "1" is the lead member that first goes in to handle an inmate. This person is the largest, strongest, and best tactically trained person. While size is not mandatory, CERT-1 should be one of the most experienced team members. He/she is outfitted in total protective gear (consisting of flack jacket, protective head gear with shield, tactical gloves and/or other necessary equipment) dependent on the type of response.
4. CERT Member "2" is the second member in to handle the inmate. S/he should be outfitted in protective gear as well, but not as extensive as the CERT-1.
5. CERT Member "3" has minimal protective gear on to allow for maximum speed, versatility, and flexibility.
6. CERT Member "4" is the same as CERT-3.
NOTE: Both the CERT-3 and CERT-4 tasks may vary from active participation in a cell extraction or forced cell move, to providing back up or perimeter protection.
There are numerous conditions that effect the forced cell move. It is up to the Team Leader to determine the threat level and what equipment (e.g., shield, O. C. A.) may be utilized prior to entering the cell/area. All CERT members will carry one Emergency Restraint Belt (ERB) in a carry case on their duty belts properly stowed and ready for deployment as needed.
Member Applications and the Selection Process:
Applications will be forwarded to the Team Coordinator (Lt. Cornelies Jones) for review. A physical agility test (P.A.T.) will be held for all applicants who have at least one (1) year experience as a certified Detention Deputy or comparable law enforcement duties. Have no disciplinary action greater than a letter of reprimand for one (1) year, have an above average annual evaluation rating.
The minimum standards for officers are:
1. Aerobic capacity - 1.5 mile run in less than 16mins. and 28sec.
2. Anaerobic power - 300 meter run in less than 71sec.
3. Muscular endurance - 25 push ups 1-min. 29 sit ups 1-min.
4. Power - vertical jump of at least 16 inches high.
5. Muscular strength - 1 RM. bench press- (.64 ratio of 1b. pushed to body weight)
Upon successfully completing the P. A. T., the applicant will be advised as to the date and time of an oral board.
Once a member/members successfully complete the above phases, their file will be reviewed by the Team Commander, who is also the Bureau of Corrections Commander. The member will then be notified via memo about their selection status.
Uniforms and other requirements
New members receive black B. D. U. uniforms. The uniform will be worn as follows:
1. Properly ironed (starched ) with proper creases
2. Pant legs will be bloused to meet and/or cover the upper part of the boot.
3. Team members may wear any polishable black boots of high top style.
Each member will receive (1) pager to be activated 24 hours a day, once a member is paged they will have 10 minutes to respond.
CERT members shall serve a minimum of 18 months from the date of acceptance. They may serve a longer term, but if they wish to resign after that period of time, they may do so via a memo requesting to be released from the team.
