The Elite Special Forces Team based in Raccoon City.

The Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) was an elite special forces division under the jurisdiction Raccoon City Police Department. It employed ex-military personnel and academic civilians for appropriate positions within the police department. The overall idea was to form a team combining tactically-sound soldiers with scientists, allowing the team to operate in both anti-terrorism and increasingly-potent urban crime.

A unit of hand-picked specialists working with the Raccoon City Police Department, S.T.A.R.S. was founded in 1996 in order to combat the increasing rate of terrorism and other violent crimes. The special forces team was formed as part of Mayor Michael Warren's redevelopment campaign funded generously and heavily by the private sector, most notably the Umbrella Corporation. By July 1998, it was comprised of twelve members split into two teams; an "Alpha" team led by Albert Wesker, and a "Bravo" team led by Enrico Marini.

The standard sidearm of the unit is a customized variant of the Beretta 92F known as the 92F S.T.A.R.S. Special (Custom) or Mod. Samurai Edge. It was designed by Joe Kendo, brother of the Kendo Gun Shop's owner, Robert Kendo.

There were two UH-1/204B models helicopters assigned to the S.T.A.R.S. unit, with one allocated to each team. Brad Vickers was assigned as Alpha Team's pilot, with Edward Dewey assigned as Bravo Team's pilot. One of the RPD's pilots, Kevin Dooley, had been called in on several occasions to contribute support to both Alpha and Bravo as the situation required. The S.T.A.R.S. photo (with an Aérospatiale/Eurocopter AS350B police helicopter in the background) also suggests that RPD patrol helicopters may be used for S.T.A.R.S. operations when needed.