Umatilla County SO developing sharpshooting team

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon sheriff’s office is developing a sharpshooter team.

Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan says the “designated marksman program” is new but aims to fill a need for officers who are skilled shooters to respond to crisis situations.

Rowan says the team is too new to dispatch yet, so the first call for a tactical police response would go to the Pendleton Police Department SWAT team and the second to Oregon State Police SWAT.

The East Oregonian reports the Pendleton and state police teams take time to assemble; state team members live throughout Oregon.

Capt. Stewart Harp, who’s on the Umatilla County team, says that underscores the need for a local response.

Rowan says the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association pushed for sheriffs to develop teams with sharpshooting skills.

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Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com