The Special Operations Unit is comprised of the Westchester County Hazardous Materials Response Team and the Technical Rescue Team. The unit is headed by Chief of Special Operations Douglas Stiller with Officers in charge of each team. The unit is designed to assist any local government agency with expertise in specialized fields that require additional training and equipment above and beyond that which most local agencies are unable to fully support.
Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT)
Founded in 1986, the county HMRT is the first hazardous materials response team to form in the lower Hudson Valley. The team is here to support responses to hazardous materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction releases and unstable conditions.
The team consists of firefighting, EMS, and industry personnel. All have been extensively trained and equipped to respond to the threat and/or release of industrial chemicals, biological agents, radiological isotopes, and WMD whether or not those were accidental or intentional.
The HMRT, in cooperation with local fire, police, and EMS agencies, assists with the development of response plans and community practice drills to improve readiness and response to hazardous material emergencies.
Technical Rescue Team (TRT)
Founded in 2006, the county TRT was created to assist emergency response agencies in technical rescue emergencies in Westchester County. The team consists of firefighting, EMS, and industry personnel.
The TRT provides equipment, apparatus, highly trained personnel, and logistical support during technical challenges to local agencies in the following areas:
- Rope rescue, high and low angle
- Confined space rescue
- Structural collapse
- Trench rescue
- Swift/flood rescue
- Wilderness search & rescue
How to Join
If you are interested in joining the Hazardous Materials Response Team or Technical Rescue Team Application send your completed application to:
Westchester County Special Operations Teams
4 Dana Rd.
Valhalla, NY 10595
If you have questions regarding either team or membership, contact Douglas Stiller, Chief of Special Operations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..