The responsibilities of the Special Enforcement Detail (SED) include:
- Maintain Special Weapons Team (SWT) availability on a 24-hour basis for handling barricaded suspect, hostage, and active shooter situations, serving arrest and search warrants in identified high-risk or other hazardous situations, and for assisting Canine Services Detail with high-risk area searches;
- Provide Tactical Entry Teams (TET) to assist any requesting unit in the service of non-high-risk search and arrest warrants;
- Provide explosive breaching capability for the Department and other special weapons teams in Los Angeles County;
- Augment station and unit level enforcement efforts through area or suspect surveillance, high-risk traffic stops, or other tactical services as needed;
- Mobilize to provide a law enforcement response at the scene of disorders and other man-made or natural disasters;
- Provide protection for designated dignitaries and jury site, or prisoner security dictated by special circumstances; and
- Provide specialized special weapons team training for SEB personnel and outside agencies.
The SED is authorized to have an underwater diving team consisting of SED, Canine Services Detail, and/or HazMat Detail members.