For the last 52 years, the Edmonton Police Service has used specially trained officers to deal with high-risk incidents. From its inception as Task Force Section in 1973 and later Tactical Section, the EPS has trained officers to deal with some of the most complex and dangerous situations.

Tactical Unit members are highly trained to address any high-risk incident, using very specialized equipment to assist with public and officer safety.

In addition to operational response and investigative support, operators within Tactical Unit continually train to deal with many high-risk events. The unit is a leader among federal and municipal law enforcement partners, both within the province and across Canada, in providing and attending cross-training opportunities with one another.