ABOUT US
We are a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
We are a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business founded in 1965 by a highly decorated World War II Army Air Corps hero and a great American, Mr. Owen B. Streeper. After returning from WW II, Mr. Streeper observed multiple incidents where accident victims were pulled from vehicles. He was injured or killed by well-meaning rescuers who had neither the tools nor the training necessary for a successful vehicle extrication.
"O.B.," as he was known to his friends, knew from his time in the Army Air Corps that there had to be a better way to rescue trapped individuals. He became a pioneer and a leader in the new "science of vehicle extrication."
O.B. Streeper founded the Emergency Squad Training Institute to train first responders in the new science of vehicle rescue. He also created Special Service and Supply, where he designed, engineered, and built the tools and developed training methods to safely "remove the vehicle from around the victim" instead of pulling the victim out of the vehicle.
The tools and techniques O.B. Streeper developed and taught became the "standards" for modern vehicle extrication. O.B. Streeper and the Emergency Squad Training Institute traveled throughout North America to fire departments, rescue squads, and law enforcement agencies large and small, paid, combination, and volunteer. He instructed thousands of emergency personnel in the science and art of vehicle extrication. O.B.'s students have passed their experience and knowledge on to others. As a result of this training and equipment, tens of thousands of accident victims have survived.
O.B. was not only a teacher, he practiced what he preached, serving as the Chief of the McCain County Rescue Squad in Illinois and as a volunteer firefighter with the Chenoa, Illinois Fire Department for over twenty years.
O.B. used his industrial construction experience and machinist knowledge to develop a long list of tools, including the "original" Rescue Air Chisel, which he called the "Air Cutting Gun." This was the first air chisel designed explicitly for rescue. He developed a heavy-duty Aluminum Infused Rescue Blanket to protect victims from fire and flying glass shards and debris during extrication, a forcible entry bar designed for opening car doors, the "BOSS" hydraulic spreader, The first x-ray compatible spine boards designed to fit into automobiles, busses, and commercial aircraft along with a host of other extrication and rescue tools.
O.B. retired from Special Service and Supply in 2004, when Gar Williams, also a Service Disabled Army Veteran, who was trained by O.B., took over the reins; since that time, we have continued O.B.'s philosophy, training programs, strict quality control standards and American Made manufacturing.
It was with great sadness that we and the nation learned of the unexpected and very sudden passing of O.B. on February 12th, 2013. With his passing, the world lost a wealth of extrication knowledge and experience along with a true American Hero and a proud member of "America's Greatest Generation."
As a service-dispaired veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), the owner, Mr. Williams, is proud to continue the tradition, philosophy, and high manufacturing standards set by "O.B.." We are committed to conserving our natural resources while providing only tools and equipment manufactured in the United States for fire, law enforcement, the military, and emergency medical services while maintaining a reasonable price. Our tools are made in America and are used around the world.
2012, as a responsible manufacturer, we updated, implemented, and published our "Earth Friendly and Green Policy" and our "Code of Ethics", which can be viewed on this page.
In November 2015, the company moved from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, into a new energy-efficient facility in Craig, Colorado, to better serve our manufacturing and distribution requirements and the needs of our valued customers and control expenses while reducing our impact on the environment.
Our line of extrication tools includes the Land Shark Hydraulic Cutter, The BOSS Tool, Hydraulic Spreaders, and Hydraulic Rams, the Rescue Air Cutting Gun, the Original Aluminized Rescue Blanket, the Extracator series of rescue tool sets, hand tools and Come-A-Longs, Back Boards, Entry bars and Hydraulic Rams are all Made in America from the highest quality materials produced in America. We do this to control quality, ensure the reliability of our supply chain by keeping Americans working, and ensure that out of the box, our extrication and rescue tools will perform the first time and every time, providing many years of reliable service.
We manufacture the "Original" Extricator® series of extrication and rescue tool sets created and designed explicitly for vehicle extrication and rescue. The RS-4, RS-5, and RS-6 Aircraft Rescue Sets are designed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) requirements for self-contained aircraft rescue toolsets.
The Extricator®, Extricator II®, Land Shark Cutter™, and the C-10 Air Cutting Gun ™, Aluminized Blanket, Forcible Entry Bar, and Hydraulic Rams are all designed to work together and complement each other to provide you with the ability to protect the victim while performing multiple and often complex rescue operations with a complete set of quiet, manually or air operated, hydraulic and pneumatic rescue tools. The silent operation of our tools eliminates the unnecessary stress created by noisy engine-powered pumps, the trip hazards of long hydraulic hoses, or the problems and expense of maintaining charged batteries required by other extrication tools.
O.B. believed that communicating quietly and effectively at an emergency scene is essential for safe, efficient operations. O.B.'s philosophy, which we continue today, was "With multiple rescue tools capable of doing the job, a single tool failure does not stop the rescue!"
Our tools are designed and made in America, built tough to work as hard as you do! They are often imitated, but their performance, reliability, and quality are never duplicated!
"O.B.," as he was known to his friends, knew from his time in the Army Air Corps that there had to be a better way to rescue trapped individuals. He became a pioneer and a leader in the new "science of vehicle extrication."
O.B. Streeper founded the Emergency Squad Training Institute to train first responders in the new science of vehicle rescue. He also created Special Service and Supply, where he designed, engineered, and built the tools and developed training methods to safely "remove the vehicle from around the victim" instead of pulling the victim out of the vehicle.
The tools and techniques O.B. Streeper developed and taught became the "standards" for modern vehicle extrication. O.B. Streeper and the Emergency Squad Training Institute traveled throughout North America to fire departments, rescue squads, and law enforcement agencies large and small, paid, combination, and volunteer. He instructed thousands of emergency personnel in the science and art of vehicle extrication. O.B.'s students have passed their experience and knowledge on to others. As a result of this training and equipment, tens of thousands of accident victims have survived.
O.B. was not only a teacher, he practiced what he preached, serving as the Chief of the McCain County Rescue Squad in Illinois and as a volunteer firefighter with the Chenoa, Illinois Fire Department for over twenty years.
O.B. used his industrial construction experience and machinist knowledge to develop a long list of tools, including the "original" Rescue Air Chisel, which he called the "Air Cutting Gun." This was the first air chisel designed explicitly for rescue. He developed a heavy-duty Aluminum Infused Rescue Blanket to protect victims from fire and flying glass shards and debris during extrication, a forcible entry bar designed for opening car doors, the "BOSS" hydraulic spreader, The first x-ray compatible spine boards designed to fit into automobiles, busses, and commercial aircraft along with a host of other extrication and rescue tools.
O.B. retired from Special Service and Supply in 2004, when Gar Williams, also a Service Disabled Army Veteran, who was trained by O.B., took over the reins; since that time, we have continued O.B.'s philosophy, training programs, strict quality control standards and American Made manufacturing.
It was with great sadness that we and the nation learned of the unexpected and very sudden passing of O.B. on February 12th, 2013. With his passing, the world lost a wealth of extrication knowledge and experience along with a true American Hero and a proud member of "America's Greatest Generation."
As a service-dispaired veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), the owner, Mr. Williams, is proud to continue the tradition, philosophy, and high manufacturing standards set by "O.B.." We are committed to conserving our natural resources while providing only tools and equipment manufactured in the United States for fire, law enforcement, the military, and emergency medical services while maintaining a reasonable price. Our tools are made in America and are used around the world.
2012, as a responsible manufacturer, we updated, implemented, and published our "Earth Friendly and Green Policy" and our "Code of Ethics", which can be viewed on this page.
In November 2015, the company moved from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, into a new energy-efficient facility in Craig, Colorado, to better serve our manufacturing and distribution requirements and the needs of our valued customers and control expenses while reducing our impact on the environment.
Our line of extrication tools includes the Land Shark Hydraulic Cutter, The BOSS Tool, Hydraulic Spreaders, and Hydraulic Rams, the Rescue Air Cutting Gun, the Original Aluminized Rescue Blanket, the Extracator series of rescue tool sets, hand tools and Come-A-Longs, Back Boards, Entry bars and Hydraulic Rams are all Made in America from the highest quality materials produced in America. We do this to control quality, ensure the reliability of our supply chain by keeping Americans working, and ensure that out of the box, our extrication and rescue tools will perform the first time and every time, providing many years of reliable service.
We manufacture the "Original" Extricator® series of extrication and rescue tool sets created and designed explicitly for vehicle extrication and rescue. The RS-4, RS-5, and RS-6 Aircraft Rescue Sets are designed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) requirements for self-contained aircraft rescue toolsets.
The Extricator®, Extricator II®, Land Shark Cutter™, and the C-10 Air Cutting Gun ™, Aluminized Blanket, Forcible Entry Bar, and Hydraulic Rams are all designed to work together and complement each other to provide you with the ability to protect the victim while performing multiple and often complex rescue operations with a complete set of quiet, manually or air operated, hydraulic and pneumatic rescue tools. The silent operation of our tools eliminates the unnecessary stress created by noisy engine-powered pumps, the trip hazards of long hydraulic hoses, or the problems and expense of maintaining charged batteries required by other extrication tools.
O.B. believed that communicating quietly and effectively at an emergency scene is essential for safe, efficient operations. O.B.'s philosophy, which we continue today, was "With multiple rescue tools capable of doing the job, a single tool failure does not stop the rescue!"
Our tools are designed and made in America, built tough to work as hard as you do! They are often imitated, but their performance, reliability, and quality are never duplicated!
earth friendly and sustainability policy
earth friendly and sustainability policy
Special Service and Supply is a Small Business Owned by a Service-Disabled American Veteran. We are committed to conserving our natural resources and responsibly utilizing them. We provide our customers with the finest quality Made in America rescue tools and products at a reasonable price.
We take proactive, responsible, and sustainable steps to protect our environment. These steps significantly reduce our energy consumption and the discharge of harmful emissions from our manufacturing processes and facility. Combined with recycling, these steps considerably reduce the volume of materials sent to the landfill.
To accomplish this:
We take proactive, responsible, and sustainable steps to protect our environment. These steps significantly reduce our energy consumption and the discharge of harmful emissions from our manufacturing processes and facility. Combined with recycling, these steps considerably reduce the volume of materials sent to the landfill.
To accomplish this:
- We purchase only the finest American-made materials available to ensure product quality and eliminate the unnecessary carbon footprint and pollution associated with overseas manufacturing and transoceanic shipping.
- We recycle all aluminum, copper, brass, and steel cuttings and materials left over from our machining, manufacturing, and repair processes.
- We utilize drain-safe chemicals and bio-degradable solvents and cleaners wherever possible.
- We have converted our paint processes from high volatile organic compound (HVOC) spray paint to powder coating and low volatile organic compounds (LVOC) automotive paints to improve the product finish, and provide increased corrosion protection while reducing (HVOCs), and other harmful emissions.
- All of our packaging and printed materials utilize post-consumer recycled materials.
- In addition to our metal recycling, we recycle our cardboard and office paper whenever possible.
- We minimize our utility consumption with periodic energy audits, LED lighting, maintaining an energy efficient building and a 99% efficient heating system. We use natural cooling and ventilation, installation of low flow water saving fixtures and practices..
- Electronic Billing and payments are provided for those customers who are able to process this type of invoicing.
- We use FedEx Ground shipping when ever possible, to provide the quickest, most reliable, secure, energy efficient and least expensive method of product delivery to our valued customers while providing real time on-line package tracking services and delivery updates.
CODE OF ETHICS
We recognize that the products and services we provide have a significant impact on the quality of life for both victims and rescuers. As we perform our duties, we demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, personal integrity, and competence. We adhere to the following Code of Ethics:
- We will fulfill our obligations to our customers in an efficient and competent manner, with integrity and complete honesty.
- We undertake to provide only those services for which we are competent by way of education, training, and experience.
- We strive to adhere to all established codes and standards relevant to the products and services we provide.
- We analyze our client's needs completely and professionally and make recommendations based on all available information to fulfill those needs.
- We strive to warn of any condition that we notice that could affect the safety, health, and well-being of our customers, employees, and clients.
- We keep confidential and do not misuse the proprietary business information of our clients. We do not provide or sell mailing lists or your information to others except as required by law.
- We do not store or retain customer credit card or payment information after the transaction is completed.
- We conduct ourselves in a dignified and professional manner. We will admit and accept our own errors when proven wrong, and we will refrain from distorting or altering the facts in an attempt to justify our decisions.
- To ensure quality, we manufacture our products using only American-made components from trusted material suppliers.
- Our warranty terms and conditions are clearly posted on our website and provided with our products.
thank you for your service
America is the land of the free because of the thousands of brave men and women who daily put their lives on the line to protect our freedom and our way of life.
We would like to extend a sincere and very heartfelt THANK YOU to all our active duty military, retired military, veterans, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical service providers, and first responders for your dedication, sacrifice, and service to America.
A special THANK YOU to all of your families who also sacrifice every day to make your service possible. May God watch over you and protect each of you during these difficult times!
Gar Williams, President,
Special Service and Supply.
We would like to extend a sincere and very heartfelt THANK YOU to all our active duty military, retired military, veterans, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical service providers, and first responders for your dedication, sacrifice, and service to America.
A special THANK YOU to all of your families who also sacrifice every day to make your service possible. May God watch over you and protect each of you during these difficult times!
Gar Williams, President,
Special Service and Supply.