[6][7][8][9] In July 1991, a SOG sniper fatally shot Vietnam war veteran Joseph Gilewicz near Pelverata.
[10] On 28 April 1996, the SOG responded to the Port Arthur massacre; gunman Martin Bryant, who was intellectually disabled and mentally ill, was reported to have killed over 30 people.
On the morning of Sunday the 28th, Bryant travelled to Seascape, a tourist accommodation facility, and killed the couple who owned the bed and breakfast.
Two uniform police arrived, witnessing the BMW alight, and were fired upon taking cover in a culvert.
The SOG thought he may possess night vision, not aware of the lapse to cover the radio light.
Eight officers from the Victoria Police Special Operations Group arrived by two chartered planes at 2300 hours to provide assistance.
[19][20][21] In 2007, the full-time team's role changed to administrative tasked with coordinating training and equipment and was downsized to four officers to be ultimately ended in 2012.
[23][24] In November 2020, the government announced funding for a further twenty full time SOG officers, whose initial duties will also include COVID-19 response.
[7] Training includes weapons skills, close quarter tactics, room clearances, method of entry (buildings / doors), less lethal options (including CS gas, Taser and Bean bag rounds), rural and urban tactics, water operations (including the fast response vessel), fast roping / helicopter training, surveillance and many other related disciplines.
[7][1] The ABC documentary television series Australian Story screened an episode A Few Good Men in March 2000 on the selection and training course.
[5] In June 2012, the SOG took delivery of a Lenco BearCat replacing their Mercedes-Benz Sprinter based Armoured Tactical Vehicle (ATV) acquired in 2006.