Behind-the-scenes look at LASD's high-risk tactical training

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- When the Special Enforcement Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is called to an active crime scene, they have tons of questions to sort through.

"We get the call and we start evaluating this thing," LASD Deputy Darell Edwards said. "Is it a barricaded suspect? Was it the tail-end of pursuit? Was it a domestic violence incident? Is the guy armed? Is he by himself?"

The Special Enforcements Bureau consists of roughly about 100 sheriff's SWAT officers out of a force of about 10,000. The highly-trained force is made up of a select few, and they are the ones who get sent to handle the worst situations.

"Most of our decisions are made within seconds of a rapidly-evolving situation. Our training hopefully comes through in those situations where we don't overreact and that we're obviously not running away from the situation," LASD Sgt. Kamal Ahmad said.

"The adrenaline definitely kicks in, especially when you know you're going after somebody who's possibly a hardened criminal," LASD Lt. Sue Burakowski said.

It's a job that isn't just high adrenaline, but also high profile. By the time, these highly-trained deputies roll in, news choppers and cameras are usually already at the scene.

"That's when we are held to an even higher standard than the people working the streets and as a result, we have to make good decisions at a split second," Burakowski said.

Those decisions though are often second guessed and SEB deployments, with their armored vehicles and high-powered combat gear, can look to some people like military operations.

"We're not at war on the streets here. We're trying to protect people. We're trying to save lives," Ahmad said.

When an SEB deployment ends in a fatality, SEB members are required to meet with a department psychologist for help coping with the stresses of the job.

"We're human beings like anybody else, we're moms and dads like everybody else, and when you see some of these things, it's gonna affect you," Burakowski said.

They're the wounds harder to spot and despite all that body armor, sometimes harder to prevent.