By Pat Culverhouse

There’s more emergency equipment available for the Minden Police Department’s  Special Response Team (SRT) thanks to money provided through a grant from the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

“We were able to get a $9,000 grant to help purchase equipment including emergency medical kits for the SRT,” said BrianWilliams, WPOHSEP Director. “We hope it’s something they never have to use, but it’s better that the officers have it on hand.”

Minden’s SRT has a medical officer who trains with and accompanies the unit when it’s called to action. Reserve Officer Brian Sparks, a hospital emergency room physician’s assistant, said team members will be introduced to the kits as part of their regular training regimen.

“If the need ever arises, we’ll have things we need in case one of our team members is injured,” Sparks said. “And everyone on the unit is being trained in the use of all the equipment.”