Homeland Security Division

The Homeland Security Division, comprised of the Harbor Patrol Unit, Special Operations Team, and Bomb Squad, serves the department and citizens by maintaining a state of preparedness for emergency response to critical incidents, terrorism and other security threats.

Harbor Patrol Unit

The Harbor Patrol Unit partners with the United States Coast Guard to ensure the safe flow of waterborne critical assets transiting the Norfolk Harbor. In addition, the Harbor Patrol Unit concentrates on recreational boating through the enforcement of state and city codes. Training of Harbor Patrol officers prepares members for natural disasters and terrorist acts. To enhance the preparedness of these officers to handle port security and rescue operations, divers are provided training necessary to perform their tasks during low visibility dive operations. Boat handling and navigation skills training improve the capabilities of the unit during inclement weather and visibility conditions.

Special Operations Team

The Special Operations Team (SOT) is comprised of two ten-man squads and the team leader. The SOT is responsible for a rapid ready response to critical incidents outside the training and weapons capability of the patrol divisions such as hostage rescue, barricaded suspects, tubular assaults, active threats, high-risk arrest/search warrants, narcotics search warrants, vehicle take-downs, and maritime operations. Due to ever expanding international and domestic terrorist threats, the Special Operations Team has received specialized training in Weapons of Mass Destruction and anti-terrorism response, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive), and HAZMAT operations.

All members of the Special Operations Team are DCJS certified instructors in a variety of specialties; they work hand in hand with the Training Unit to provide professional training to other members of the department as well as outside agencies. Taking a proactive stance with Homeland Security, the Special Operations Team is responsible for identifying critical assets to the city’s infrastructure and procuring information to better assist them for quick and efficient responses to critical incidents. These assets include schools, City Hall, power plants, public utilities, shipyards, NIT, Scope and other public venues. SOT assists the Harbor Patrol Unit in providing security for LPG tanker ships. They also provide observation and reaction teams for major events such as Harborfest and the Grand Illumination Parade. The SOT has had extensive training in the Incident Command System and has partnered with various state, local and federal agencies in order to prepare for and effectively manage large incidents.

Bomb Squad

The mission of the Bomb Squad is to provide a rapid, technical response to calls for service involving real or suspected explosives and explosive devices; to provide additional resources to the Homeland Security Division; and to provide training and instruction to the Norfolk Police Department in the recognition of, and response to situations involving explosives. The Norfolk Bomb Squad works and trains in concert with other local bomb squads, the Virginia State Police Bomb Squad, military Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agencies in preparing for events involving explosives and improvised explosive devices. This training involves, but is not limited to, x-ray interpretation, electronics, and use of the bomb suit.