Specialty Units

Specialty Units

The Huron Police Department has six specialty units. Each unit is listed below with a brief explanation of what they do. You can select one of the links below to jump to a particular unit:

• Special Response Team
• K-9 Unit
• Traffic Unit
• School Resource Officer
• Code Enforcement Officer
• Bike Patrol

Special Response Team / Crisis Negotiations

The Huron Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) is comprised of 11 tactical operators. Each operator is responsible for various specialty assignments within the team. These assignments include: entry personnel, snipers, tactical medics, and less-lethal operators. The SRT also has an attached element of three trained crisis negotiators. SRT responsibilities include incidents such as barricaded subjects, hostage rescues, high-risk apprehensions, and warrant service.

K-9 Unit

The Huron Police Department has maintained a Police Service Dog (K-9) Unit since the inception of the program in 2012. The current K-9 team consists of Sgt. Derek Layher and his canine partner, PSD Cody. Cody is a single purpose, Belgian Malinois, trained and certified in narcotic detection. Unit responsibilities consist of traffic interdiction, search warrants, school searches, and various public demonstrations and education programs. In addition to his service for the Huron Police Department, Cody also assists various outside agencies. Some of these agencies include the Beadle County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Traffic Unit

The Huron Police Department Traffic Unit is comprised of one officer strictly assigned to traffic enforcement. The Traffic Unit’s goal is to reduce traffic crashes and injuries by increasing compliance of traffic laws within the city. The Traffic Unit accomplishes this through both traffic enforcement and education. The Huron Police Department also participates in several state and federal traffic safety programs throughout the year. These programs specifically target traffic violations such as speeding violations, seatbelt use, and DUI offenses, commonly associated with traffic crashes and injuries.

School Resource Officer (SRO)

The Huron Police Department provides a full-time uniformed officer, specifically assigned as the districts School Resource Officer. Although the SRO’s office is located in the Huron High School, the officer is available to all schools located within the City of Huron. The SRO acts as a liaison between the law enforcement community and the school system, providing a strong working relationship with both faculty and students. In addition to his law enforcement roles, the SRO also speaks in classrooms upon request.

Code Enforcement Officer (CEO)

The Code Enforcement Officer is a full-time uniformed officer, who works out of the city’s inspections office. The CEO receives and is responsible for investigating all nuisance complaints within the city.

Bike Patrol

The Huron Police Department has two officers certified through the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA). Bicycle officers are able to travel faster and farther than an officer on foot patrol and are able to reach areas not normally accessible by vehicle. Officers on bicycles are more approachable by the public, providing the officers a better opportunity to interact with members of the community.