The Special Operations Command (SOCOM) consists of Air Operation Bureau (AOB), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Teams, the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), and the Statewide Weapons of Mass Destruction Team (SWMDT).

The Air Operations Bureau (AOB) oversees aircraft and flight crews based regionally to respond to emergencies in a timely fashion. Highly trained expert pilots respond to manhunts and searches for missing persons, conduct air speed details, provide surveillance support, and serve several other high threat or high value asset missions in fixed wing aircraft.

Four ISP SWAT teams serve throughout Illinois, addressing a wide range of threats and emergencies. The teams use extensive training in dealing order to deal with many complex threats to public safety and emergency incidents, ranging from the searches for missing persons to dealing with armed threats. The selection for ISP SWAT Operators is highly demanding and highly competitive. Once selected, new operators are exposed to some of the most rigorous and challenging training afforded to law enforcement in the United States.