Under the Community Safety and Policing Act (2019) police services must have a tactical response within a reasonable time, ensuring a structured and  standardized approach to high-risk operations. 

The Peterborough Police Service Emergency Response Team of eight (8) members was originally formed in the late 1990's as it was recognized there was a need for a part time containment team to meet the Adequacy Standards set out by the legislation of the day.

Since then, the mandate has been expanded to become an Emergency Response Team (ERT) to meet the increasing demands of the Peterborough Police Service.

• In 2025 the team consisted of 14 members our of Service and six (6) fully trained Tactical Paramedics. These TAC Medics are currently employed by  Peterborough Paramedics and assist outside of  regular Paramedic duties. 
• All ERT members are assigned to the front line, ensuring a swift and effective response to high-risk incidents.
• Duties of the Team include high risk warrant service, barricaded persons, search tactics, crowd control, negotiations and other high risk situations.
• The members typically respond as a Team, although individual members have special skills that contribute to the success of the Team as a whole. These officers are on call 24 hours a day, 356 days a year.
• ERT members are continually training as a team, individually, and with other agencies to enhance their skill level and meet the provincial standards.
• Standards are met yearly in fitness, firearms proficiency, less than lethal devices, sniper, and entry techniques. ERT members are a group of highly motivated individuals that devote many of their on and off duty hours to ensure an extremely successful team.