Passaic County creates roving SWAT unit for quick responses to emergencies, active shooter

A roving SWAT unit meant to quickly respond to any emergency — including an active shooter — may be patrolling county roads as early as next month, according to Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik.

The sheriff, who announced the plan recently at a security seminar in Wayne, said the unit would be made up of SWAT-trained county officers who would work as an "advance team" for the rest of the department. They would arrive on the scene first, he said, then call in details about a given situation and what response might be necessary.

But the unit won't just combat active shooters, Berdnik said. The sheriff's officers, who will also be equipped with less-than-lethal Tasers and de-escalation skills, will take emergency calls and do quality-of-life patrols in county hot spots, he added.

"They'll be able to respond to any type of crisis or emergency, and they'll have the training and the equipment," Berdnik said. "The plan here is to provide the best that we can for the public in terms of public safety."

The announcement closely follows a bloody series of mass shootings, including the Uvalde, Texas, massacre that left 19 schoolchildren and two teachers dead. Berdnik said he had wanted to launch the unit for some time but didn't have the manpower.

But the county's decision last year to shutter the Passaic County Jail in Paterson has freed up officers throughout the department, he said.

"It's really the perfect time," Berdnik said.

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Neighboring Bergen County has run a similar program since 2017, when then-Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal unveiled two SWAT patrol units that officials said would be able to swiftly respond to critical incidents and high-risk calls throughout the county.

Bergen's two-man units are staffed by highly trained, specially equipped members of that county's regional SWAT team.

Passaic's will function similarly. Berdnik said the unit will work in two shifts, eventually expanding so it's on the road around the clock.

It’s not clear how many personnel will be involved — several corrections officers are still working through the mandated training needed to become sheriff's officers, Berdnik said. But the shifts will likely have one supervisor and up to three specially trained officers.

The sheriff said he's still waiting for lights and sirens for the unit's semi-marked Chevrolet Suburban. But the department may substitute another vehicle so the group can get on the road sooner.

The Uvalde shooting loomed heavily over last week's security seminar, which was for local clergy worried about keeping their churches, mosques and synagogues safe.

Besides the roving SWAT unit, Berdnik announced plans for increased patrols at schools, county parks and houses of worship.

"I think it's so important to have that visibility — to have officers walking, communicating and letting people know that we care, we are out there," Berdnik said. "What happened in Texas will not happen in Passaic County."

Steve Janoski covers law enforcement for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news about those who safeguard your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic County NJ creates roving SWAT unit for quick responses