The Public Safety Unit (PSU) was established in 1997. Officers are trained to deal with large groups of people, be they protestors or concert goers. These officers serve full-time in many areas of the department including Patrol, Criminal Investigation Division, and Administration Division.

The PSU trains regularly to deal proactively with large crowds before an incident takes place. Concert promoters, potential strike-bound companies and others contact HRP regularly to discuss the possible need for the PSU.

A change of focus has occurred in relation to dealing with both peaceful and unruly crowds. In the past, police were not called in until it was feared there may be violence; today's thinking puts the PSU on the scene before it escalates to that point. Call it pro-active policing in crowd control.

The PSU normally deploys in "soft tactical" equipment.  This is a uniform composed of tactical clothing, light padding and baseball hats.  Officers only utilize equipment such as helmets and full protective padding if an incident deteriorates into a violent confrontational situation.

The team is visible and flexible to any crowd situation. A high profile police presence from the beginning helps keep incidents to a minimum.