When protestors lock themselves to heavy construction equipment or jump into the pipeline trenches, the task force turns to a special field force extrication team. “This team that we have, basically takes about two hours from the time we call them until the time they're on scene with a trailer load of equipment to help extricate people off a pipe or out of a sleeping dragon or off of a piece of equipment,” Guida said. The task force started planning years ago, in part because of what unfolded at the Dakota Access Pipeline in the fall of 2016. Law enforcement monitoring the large encampment became overwhelmed and outnumbered at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. They eventually turned to water canons, pepper spray and other means of less-lethal force to disperse the crowds.