Victoria Police Special Operations Group

The SOG was formed in secrecy on 31 October 1977 by Chief Commissioner Mick Miller to establish a group to conduct special operations in regard to counter terrorism that would be directed towards preventative/protective security and combatting operations. Terrorism meaning politically motivated criminal activity as well as other forms of criminal activity which terrorise innocent persons.{{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Mick|title=Special Operations Group|date=31 October 1977|publisher=Chief Commissioner Memorandum}} The first the public was aware of the existence of the SOG was by an article in The Age newspaper in 1980.{{cite news|last1=Murdoch|first1=Lindsay|title=Police link to spy agencies|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19800221&id=VPVUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1812,2646764&hl=en|access-date=27 July 2016|work=The Age|date=21 February 1980}}

In 1992, the Nine Network screened a television documentary on the SOG selection course, that included long runs, interspersed with scoffing warm beer and meat pies until the volunteers threw up, to demonstrate how drinking any alcohol while on call, would impair functioning. In 1995, following a review of the SOG as part of Project Beacon, safety-first tactics were introduced along with less-than-lethal equipment with the philosophy that use of force is the last resort.{{cite news|last1=Silvester|first1=John|title=Role of elite police unit under review|work=The Sunday Age|date=5 March 1995}}{{cite news|last1=Winkler|first1=Tim|title=Police to train in non-lethal intervention|work=The Age|date=29 August 1995}}{{cite news|title=Police to rely less on guns|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=29 August 1995}} In 1996, the SOG became the first Police Tactical Group to deploy interstate, with ten officers urgently sent to Tasmania via charter plane to assist the part-time Tasmania Police Special Operations Group to respond to the Port Arthur massacre.{{cite web|title=Police speak about Port Arthur murderer|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/04/09/1144521193636.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald| date=9 April 2006 |publisher=9 April 2006|access-date=29 July 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Carlyon|first1=Patrick|title=Port Arthur 20 years on: The day that changed Australia|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/port-arthur-20-years-on-the-day-that-changed-australia/news-story/edadbc8053fac478499f80550515b17a|work=Herald Sun|date=15 April 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171118060715/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/port-arthur-20-years-on-the-day-that-changed-australia/news-story/edadbc8053fac478499f80550515b17a|archive-date=18 November 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Silvester|first1=John|title=Naked city: Special Ops vet and Patch do the hard yards|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/naked-city-special-ops-vet-and-patch-do-the-hard-yards-20140910-10ewhz.html|website=Sydney Morning Herald| date=12 September 2014 |publisher=The Age - 13 September 2014|access-date=29 July 2016}}

In 2003, the Bomb Response Unit (BRU) was established with dedicated officers within the SOG which had since inception provided a bomb search and disposal capability to Victoria Police.{{cite web|last1=Kaila|first1=Jon|title=Behind the scenes of Victoria Police's elite bomb squad|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/behind-the-scenes-of-victoria-polices-elite-bomb-squad/story-e6frf7kx-1226431643213|website=Herald Sun|publisher=22 July 2012|access-date=27 July 2016|url-access=subscription}} In 2004, the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was formed to respond to high risk non-firearms incidents to reduce the SOG workload.{{cite web|last1=Shuey (Ret.)|first1=Assistant Commissioner Ray|title=Victoria - Police Practice in Other Jurisdictions|url=http://www.mulley.net/BarrTribunalReport/BarrTribunalReportChapter12.html|website=Barr Tribunal Report (Ireland) 2006|publisher=Damien Mulley|access-date=28 July 2016}} Such as a call out in September 1998 when the SOG disarmed a sword-wielding mentally ill man in a two-hour stand off in front of a 2000-strong crowd near Flinders Street station.{{cite news|last1=Carson|first1=Andrea|title=Crowd antics abysmal, say police|work=The Age|date=8 September 1998}} Earlier in 1995 during the SOG Review, there had been a proposal for two SOG teams consisting of four officers each to patrol Melbourne similar to CIRT.{{cite news|last1=Silvester|first1=John|title=Ideas to counter terror|work=The Sunday Age|date=3 June 1995}}

In 2011, the SOG responded to 4 sieges, conducted 10 forced building entries, conducted 54 high-risk arrests and mobile intercepts, and 36 cordon-and-call operations.

The SOG has two nicknames Soggies and the Sons of God, the latter a backronym made from the initials SOG. The unofficial SOG emblem is telescopic crosshairs superimposed over a balaclava-clad head on an outline of Australia.

Notable incidents include the fatal shooting of Wayne Joannou in February 2005 in South Melbourne, Mohamed Chaouk in April 2005 in Brooklyn, Norman Leung Lee in July 1992 at Melbourne Airport, the manhunt for Melbourne Assessment Prison escapees in March 1993 near Jamieson, resolving a siege at a law firm in Mitcham in June 1996 with tear gas, and a siege in Kangaroo Flat in October 1999 in which four uniform officers had been wounded.{{cite web|last1=Petrie|first1=Andrea|last2=Milovanovic|first2=Selma|title=Policeman fired fatal shot after attack|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Policeman-fired-fatal-shot-after-attack/2005/04/05/1112489486766.html|website=The Age| date=6 April 2005 |publisher=6 April 2005|access-date=7 May 2022}}{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Paul|title=Inside the shooting death of murder suspect Wayne Joannou by Victoria's elite Special Operations Group aka the 'Sons of God'|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/inside-the-shooting-death-of-murder-suspect-wayne-joannou-by-victorias-elite-special-operations-group-aka-the-sons-of-god/story-fni0ffnk-1226746239533|work=Herald Sun|date=26 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027003430/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/inside-the-shooting-death-of-murder-suspect-wayne-joannou-by-victorias-elite-special-operations-group-aka-the-sons-of-god/story-fni0ffnk-1226746239533|archive-date=27 October 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Victoria Police Special Operations Group (SOG) now 'The Peacemakers' after a string of fatal shootings|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/true-crime-scene/victoria-police-special-operations-group-sog-now-the-peacemakers-after-a-string-of-fatal-shootings/news-story/b7b442d2a9bd7b6d96705e503ad4ebc7|access-date=27 July 2016|work=Herald Sun|date=21 August 2015|url-access=subscription}} Recents incidents include the Brighton siege in June 2017 and the fatal shooting of Stanley Turvey in Ardmona in September 2023.{{cite AV media|date=6 June 2017|title=Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton media briefing|url=https://www.facebook.com/victoriapolice/videos/1564826613589469/|medium=Television production|work=Victoria Police Media Unit|publisher=Victoria Police|access-date=31 July 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Crowe |first1=Alex |last2=Mills Turbet |first2=Hanna |title=Armed fugitive shot dead by police after three-day pursuit |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/armed-fugitive-shot-dead-after-three-day-police-pursuit-across-two-states-20230920-p5e66t.html |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=The Age |publisher=Nine Entertainment |date=20 September 2023}} The SOG was responsible for the security of the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The SOG provides Victoria Police with a counter terrorist and high risk arrest response capability.{{cite web|title=Hiring Now - Special Operations Group|url=https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaPoliceRecruitment/photos/a.144268225607283.21479.133957133305059/1325600880807339/?type=3&theater|website=Victoria Police Recruitment|publisher=Facebook|access-date=26 July 2017|date=27 November 2016}} The SOG roles include, but are not limited to:

• Armed offender{{cite report|title=Review of fatal shootings by Victoria Police / report of the Director, Police Integrity|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL2003-06No177.pdf|access-date=26 July 2016|work=Office of Police Integrity|date=November 2005|series=Parliamentary paper (Victoria. Parliament) ; no. 177, session 2003-2005|publisher=Government Printer|location=Melbourne}}{{cite web|title=Special Operations Group|url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=173|website=Victoria Police|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422162919/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=173|archive-date=22 April 2018}}{{cite journal|title=106-2 SOG attendance|journal=Victoria Police Manual|date=5 March 2007}}
• Terrorism or significant politically motivated violence
• Unplanned operational critical incidents, such as situations involving armed offenders including sieges and hostage situations
• Planned operations involving the arrest of dangerous suspects
• Undertaking searches of premises in high risk situations (level three)
• Bomb related incidents
• Covert surveillance or reconnaissance beyond the scope of operational police

The SOG is part of the Security Services Division of the Transit & Public Safety Command within Victoria Police.{{cite web |title=Transit and Public Safety Command |url=https://www.police.vic.gov.au/transit-and-public-safety-command |website=Victoria Police |access-date=17 November 2022 |date=7 November 2022}}

In 2016, it was announced that the SOG strength would be increased by 20 new officers.{{cite web|title=More Than 400 New Police For Crime Crack Down|url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-than-400-new-police-for-crime-crack-down/|website=Premier of Victoria|access-date=26 July 2016}} Earlier in 2010, the strength of the unit had been cut to expand CIRT.{{cite web|title=Police trim a third off terror unit|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-trim-a-third-off-terror-unit-20100407-rs7k.html|website=The Age| date=7 April 2010 |publisher=8 April 2010}}{{cite magazine|title=SOG bears the brunt of police shortages|url=http://www.tpav.org.au/_documents/b5895d4e-97c5-4453-abc4-6168d2906eda/tpav_may_10.pdf|magazine=Journal : The Police Association Victoria|date=May 2010|issn=1443-2307|location=Melbourne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815195137/http://www.tpav.org.au/_documents/b5895d4e-97c5-4453-abc4-6168d2906eda/tpav_may_10.pdf|archive-date=15 August 2016}} In 2016, it was also announced that the SOG would develop a new capability with their own tactical dogs. In 2018, it was reported that the SOG had created a Quick Response Force to provide a rapid response to high risk incidents that can self-deploy unlike standard call-outs.{{cite book |title=Victoria Police Annual Report 2017-2018 |date=September 2018 |publisher=Victoria Police |issn=2202-9680 |page=25 |url=https://www.police.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-01/VicPolAnnualReport2018.pdf |access-date=17 November 2022}}

Volunteers for the SOG need to successfully complete a two-week selection course, and if successful, must then successfully complete a 12-week training course.{{cite magazine|last1=Carnovale|first1=Maria|title=In the black|url=https://issuu.com/policelife/docs/5987_vpo_policelife_autumn16_fa_dig|access-date=26 July 2016|magazine=Police Life - the Victoria Police magazine|date=Autumn 2016|publisher=Victoria Police|issn=0032-2598}}{{cite magazine|last1=Houghton|first1=Janae|title=Have you got the skills for the SOG|url=https://issuu.com/policelife/docs/policelife_winter12_issuu|access-date=27 July 2016|magazine=Police life : the Victoria Police magazine|date=Winter 2012|publisher=Victoria Police|issn=0032-2598}}{{cite news|title=One false move...|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/one-false-move/2005/10/15/1128796742694.html|website=The Age|date=16 October 2005|access-date=27 July 2016}}{{cite magazine|last1=Erbrederis|first1=Anna|title=So you want to be in the SOG|url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?a=internetBridgingPage&Media_ID=34551|magazine=Police Life - the Victoria Police magazine|date=October 2008|publisher=Victoria Police|issn=0032-2598|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330134520/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?Media_ID=34551|archive-date=30 March 2016}}

In 2016, it was announced that a new A$27 million training facility would be built.{{cite press release|title=A Landmark, Victorian-First Plan To Keep People Safe|url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/a-landmark-victorian-first-plan-to-keep-people-safe/|website=Premier of Victoria|access-date=8 December 2016|date=7 December 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Minear|first1=Tom|title=New police helicopters, body cameras in State Government crime blitz|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/new-police-helicopters-body-cameras-in-state-government-crime-blitz/news-story/f0c90dfef4120b037342cbc8525fbac0|access-date=8 December 2016|work=Herald Sun|date=7 December 2016|url-access=subscription}} In April 2022, the Specialist Training Facility opened, it cost nearly A$60 million to build and has three firing ranges and a combat range.{{cite book |title=Victoria Police Annual Report 2021-2022 |date=8 September 2022 |publisher=Victoria Police |issn=2202-9680 |page=32 |url=https://www.police.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/Victoria-Police-Annual-Report-2021-2022.pdf |access-date=17 November 2022}}{{cite AV media |last=Zervos |first=Cassie |title=Inside the secret training for Victoria's elite tactical police |date=10 May 2022 | type=Television production |location=Melbourne |publisher=7NEWS |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIRAmpGUGUs |access-date=18 November 2022 |via=Youtube |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/uIRAmpGUGUs |archive-date=17 November 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}

Since its inception the SOG wore an iconic black uniform synonymous of the SOG.{{cite magazine|title=The Black Pack|magazine=Police Life - the Victoria Police magazine|date=December 1995|page=8-10|publisher=Victoria Police|issn=0032-2598}} In 2021, the uniform colour changed to khaki.{{cite AV media |people=Silvester, John |title=The change to the Special Operations Group that's caused Sly 'great sadness' |date=21 July 2021|medium=Radio broadcast |work=3AW Breakfast with Ross and Russel |publisher=3AW |url=https://www.3aw.com.au/the-change-to-the-special-operations-group-thats-caused-sly-great-sadness/| access-date=17 August 2021}} The SOG use a variety of specialised weapons and equipment including the Smith & Wesson M&P pistol, SIG MCX SBR rifle, Remington 12-gauge shotguns, sniper rifles and 40 mm grenade launcher.{{cite magazine |last1=André |first1=Dom |title=SOG (Australia) |magazine=FLASHBANG |issue=11 |url=https://flashbang-magazine.com/ecommerce/index.php/magazine/summer-2018-edition-010.html |access-date=21 November 2019 |publisher=NIMROD|location=France |id=Summer 2018}}{{cite AV media|author=Peter Mitchell|date=24 July 2017|title=Elite Force|url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsMelbourne/videos/10155680115494301/|medium=Television production|work=7 News Melbourne|publisher=Seven Network|access-date=27 July 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Dowsley|first1=Anthony|title=Victoria Police special operations, critical incident teams get new guns|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victoria-police-special-operations-critical-incident-teams-get-new-guns/news-story/319a3652c4a8bf0cb6ceaa8107f0e351|work=Herald Sun|date=25 March 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171118051536/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victoria-police-special-operations-critical-incident-teams-get-new-guns/news-story/319a3652c4a8bf0cb6ceaa8107f0e351|archive-date=18 November 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

In July 2018, the SOG took delivery of two Lenco BearCat armoured rescue vehicles, one funded by the Victorian Government and the other purchased by Victoria Police, to replace their older model BearCat.{{cite press release|title=Special Operations Group expand their fleet |url=https://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/news/special-operations-group-expand-their-fleet |website=Victoria Police News|date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729080013/https://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/news/special-operations-group-expand-their-fleet|archive-date=29 July 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Hosking |first1=Wes |title=Victoria Police Special Operations Group gets new BearCat armoured vehicles |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/victoria-police-special-operations-group-gets-new-bearcat-armoured-vehicles/news-story/21325f268c77733bbe42ac4dd6de2710 |work=Sunday Herald Sun |date=28 July 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180729075831/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/victoria-police-special-operations-group-gets-new-bearcat-armoured-vehicles/news-story/21325f268c77733bbe42ac4dd6de2710 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead}} In April 2013, the SOG had taken delivery of a BearCat funded by the federal government.{{cite news|title='BearCat' to assist police in hostile situations|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-12/27bearcat27-to-assist-police-in-hostile-situations/4625256?section=vic|newspaper=ABC News| date=12 April 2013 |publisher=12 April 2013|access-date=27 July 2016}}{{cite magazine|title=The Bearcat|url=https://issuu.com/policelife/docs/policelife_spring2013final|access-date=28 July 2016|magazine=Police Life - the Victoria Police magazine|date=Spring 2013|page=4|publisher=Victoria Police|issn=0032-2598}}{{cite web |title=Lenco Supplies BearCat Armored Vehicles to Australian National Counter Terrorism Committee |url=https://www.lencoarmor.com/2014/04/lenco-supplies-bearcat-armored-vehicles-to-australian-national-counter-terrorism-committee/ |website=Lenco Armored Vehicles |access-date=29 July 2018 |date=9 April 2014}} The BearCat had replaced a Canadian made Armet Armored Vehicles Balkan Mk7 that had been in service since 2009.{{cite magazine|title=Balkan Safety Rescue Vehicle|url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?Media_ID=49957|magazine=Police Life - the Victoria Police magazine|date=December 2009|page=4|publisher=Victoria Police|issn=0032-2598|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220181907/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?Media_ID=49957|archive-date=20 February 2011}}{{cite web|title=Armet Balkan - Australian Police.mpg|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf1_0qsoidE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cf1_0qsoidE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=Armet Armored Vehicles| date=10 February 2010 |publisher=Youtube|access-date=27 July 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |title=Balkan MK7 |url=http://www.aavi.com/?page_id=56 |website=Armet Armored Vehicles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903101046/http://www.aavi.com/?page_id=56 |archive-date=3 September 2011}} The Balkan had replaced their first armoured vehicle, a British made Composite Armoured Vehicle (CAV) 100 Land Rover Defender, acquired in 1995 after being imported for trialling by the Special Air Service Regiment.{{cite web|title=Armoured Land-Rovers|url=http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~lloyd/tildeLand-Rover/Specials/|website=Land Rovers|publisher=Lloyd Allison|access-date=27 July 2016}} In 2016, the acquisition of three new ballistic rated vehicles was announced.

• Tactical Assault Groups (Australian Defence Force)
• National Counter-Terrorism Exercise

{{reflist|2}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=McCulloch|first1=Jude|title=Blue army : paramilitary policing in Australia|date=2001|publisher=Melbourne University Press|location=Carlton South, Vic|isbn=0522849601|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bluearmyparamili0000mccu}}

{{refend}}

• [http://www.police.vic.gov.au/ Victoria Police official website]

{{Aust PTG}}

Category:Police tactical units

Category:1977 establishments in Australia

Category:Victoria Police units