The St. Joseph Missouri's Police Department Special Response Team's primary mission is to respond to incidents such as barricaded persons or hostage situations that require the special skills and training of the team. In addition, SRT also executes selected search warrants on behalf of the Detective Division when it is determined that a "high risk" of armed resistance exists. The Special Response Team is composed 19 team members, and 5 negotiators drawn from various areas of the department: Patrol, Traffic, Detective, and SRO. Positions on the team include entry team and marksman (sniper). Members spcialize in entry, intelligence, chemical munitions, less lethal force options, and various other specialties. Each member on the team is selected based on his or her skill, knowledge, training and expertise. Officers assigned to SRT have regular departmental duties that they perform in addition to their SRT assignment. SRT officers train on the average of 16 hours per month and must be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The training consists of building searches, warrant service, hostage rescue tactics, bus and vehicle assaults, open field search, downed officer rescue, high-risk surveillance and crowd control. SRT officers receive their training from various outside agencies, train with area teams, and intense in-house training.

In 2007 the St. Joseph Police Department combined the SRT with the Buchanan County Sheriff Department. This new combined team added 4 deputies from the Sheriff's Department to the current SJPD team. Now the team serves a greater function. The team is used by both agencies to handle any situation in Buchanan County where a specialized team is needed. This added responsibility includes, but is not limited to, serving of high risk search warrants for the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force. The team is also utilized by several surrounding agencies and smaller counties who do not have the manpower or funding for such a team. This new joint department team is more functional and provides much better service to the entire Northwest Missouri area.

SRT weaponry include issued H&K MP-5 sub-machine guns, and side arm, 12 Gauge shotgun, Colt M-16s, Bushmaster AR-15s, noise flash diversion devices, less lethal, and chemical munitions. Team snipers have precision rifles.

Officers interested in serving in the SRT Team must have a minimum of two years experience with the department and be in excellent physical condition. They must demonstrate high proficiency with department issued firearms and have a good departmental performance record. Interested officers undergo a physical fitness test, and an oral interview board composed of current SRT officers who evaluate their potential as a member of the Special Response Team.

Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT)

The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) functions as a subdivision of the Special Response Team. The CNT's goal is to enhance the prospects of peacefully and successfully resolving incidents through communication. The CNT supports and assists both the patrol and SRT functions by providing personnel trained in crisis intervention. The most common applications are suicide interventions and barricaded subjects.

Officers are selected for participation on the team based on experience, communication skills, and the ability to think and act under pressure.