Victoria Police Special Operations Group

Special Operations Group
Active 1977[1] - Present
Country Australia Australia
Branch Victorian Police
Role Law Enforcement, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Tactical Law Enforcement
Part of Victoria Police Transit & Public Safety Command
Operations Support Division
Nickname Sons of God,[1] "soggies"
Motto "Blessed are the peacemakers"
Engagements Port Arthur massacre, Purana Task Force gangland arrests
Commanders
Current
commander		 Inspector Mark Doney (Unit Commander)[2]
Notable
commanders		 Inspector John Noonan, Mick Miller

The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the police tactical group of the Victoria Police. The SOG unit is part of the Operations Support division of the Transit & Public Safety command, which falls under the Field Operations executive command.

History

The Special Operations Group was formed in October 1977.[3] Its main function was to provide a response to politically motivated and criminal terrorist activity. Today, this remains the number one priority for the Special Operations Group. The SOG is the Victoria Police equivalent of a full-time tactical (SWAT) team. Victorian SOG officers assisted the Tasmanian Special Operations Group during the infamous Port Arthur massacre in 1996.[4] SOG are currently equipped with an armoured vehicle known as the 'Armet Balkan Mk7 tactical response vehicle' for responding to potential terrorist threats or armed sieges.[5] SOG took delivery of this vehicle in 2009 to replace their previous ageing armoured Land Rover.[6][7] The previous armoured Land Rover was initially acquired in 1995[7] and is still in use with the critical incident response teams.

In April 2013 SOG took delivery of a Lenco BearCat armoured rescue vehicle provided by the Federal Government bringing Victoria in-line with other States and Territories who already have Bearcats.[8]

Mission

The SOG responds to unplanned operational critical incidents such as sieges and siege hostage situations, armed offender tasks and bomb response incidents. They also assist operational police in planned operations involving apprehension of dangerous suspects.[9]

Principal roles

The SOG has different teams based in Melbourne, led by a Senior Sergeant (who mainly handles administration and major operations). There are then team supervisors, led by Sergeants. These teams are co-ordinated and dispatched accordingly, by the respective police service area - local area commanders (Inspectors) upon request and liaison with the SOG commander (Inspector) and/or team managers (Senior Sergeants).

As can be expected, the SOG is the upper level of major incident response, after General Duties (Police Stations) and the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), who don't have the skills, experience and/or training needed for the situation. Hence, the dispatch of such unit is handled with authority and care. Sometimes teams from the unit may have to travel long distances (i.e.) Regional Victoria.

The SOG also provides specialist assistance in performing tasks which are beyond the scope of operational police. Some of these tasks may require specialist equipment or expertise in certain areas. An example of such assistance can be seen recently with the SOGs attendance to assist detectives at a shooting involving Macchour Chaouk.[10]

Equipment

The SOG use a variety of specialised weapons and equipment including variants of the M4 Carbine[11] replacing previously issued F88 Austeyr.[12][13] Heckler & Koch USP sidearm also chambered in .45 ACP calibre.[14]

Unofficial name

SOG have several unofficial nicknames within the police including "Soggies" and "Sons of God", the latter a backronym made from the initials SOG.[1][15][16]

See also

Similar Australian units

International units

Related articles

References

External links