For the first time Homeland Security Investigations invited the media to check out its Special Response Team based out of Tampa.

"Most of the work we do is kind of in the shadows and because of that we’ve never really done anything like this in the press before,” said SRT special agent Kevin Power. "We want to be more out in the open about what our team does because we have responded to some local critical incidents."

Power said the team used its armored vehicle to assist the St. Petersburg police Department in 2011, when two officers were shot and killed. The SRT also provided enhanced security for the RNC and the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa.

"When the Super Bowl was here last time, our team actually provided part of the air cover,” Power said.

Assistant special agent in charge, Michael Kennedy, said on Feb. 28, SRT agents traveled to Puerto Rico to help take down the Rio Pedras drug cartel.

"There were 42 arrests warrants, people that were indicted," Kennedy said. "There were several that were extremely high risk. So, our team traveled down to San Juan and executed an arrest warrant on one of the high risk targets down there.”

Kennedy said executing high risk arrest warrants is most of the work the SRT conducts but they also work human trafficking, child porn and drug cases.

"The H.I.S. Tampa team is one of the oldest teams in our service. These Special Response Teams go back over two decades," said deputy special agent in charge Shane Folden. “I think our team was the second team established.”

Power said he's the only special agent left from that original team.

"I’m the last remaining founding member of the Tampa Special Response Team dating back to 1990,” he said.

The SRT invited Bay News 9 to participate in their training drills on Wednesday at the Hillsborough County Range in Lithia. The team practiced close quarters battle building entries, downed officer rescue scenarios and live fire shooting drills.

"We train twice a month at least," said special agent Russell Ricalde. "We also train for a one-week period sometime during the year.” 

Ricalde said the SRT also helps out during natural disasters like when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the earthquake that leveled Haiti. Ricalde said he's happy the SRT is finally stepping out of the shadows.

"I personally think it’s a good thing for the team and a good thing for the agency that people know what we do and how we do it and what we’re about,” he said.