The La Crosse Police Department Emergency Response Team was formed in the spring of 1990.  Since then, the team has become nationally recognized for innovations in the area of crowd control and use of force tactical training.

The Emergency Response Team consists of officers who are highly skilled and highly motivated, who are specially trained to respond as a team to situations that are very dangerous or very unique.  They are expected to be in top physical condition and maintain a high degree of skill in the use of their physical and tactical skills.  The team also has members who serve as Crisis Negotiators to assist in peaceful resolutions of very volatile situations.

Since its inception, the La Crosse Police Department Emergency Response Team has brought to a successful conclusion hundreds of calls, which has included armed barricaded suspects, suicidal subjects, high risk search warrants, high risk arrest warrants, and riots.