POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 37 Truro Police Training TRURO – The door was ajar only slightly, but Onyx was ready to head into the old hospital. The dog and his handler, Const. Justin Russell, were at the former Colchester Regional Hospital on Willow Street along with their colleagues for rapid response training. They stayed at the ready at the entrance just off the street, with their fellow officers – masked and armed – to head in at a moment’s notice. “It’s very important for public safety,” said Truro Police Chief David MacNeil in regards to why the force’s officers each spent a full day with firearm instructor Const. Ed Cormier at the site. “If the need arose, our officers could respond effectively. We would have those tools and that training to deal with that.” The training, said MacNeil, was set for any sort of scenario where there could be an active shooter in a public place. The training is mandated by the province, he said, for every four years. “There was a classroom component with theory, and then training of formations and movements,” the chief said. “The training is designed so that the first responding officer could effectively take action against a threat.” Training also included those in teams, from a two-officer team up the five or six. “It’s to train us as the first responder so we can immediately engage that active threat. Sometimes when an officer arrives on scene, they don’t have time to wait. Now they’ll Armed and Ready Truro Police Service conducts rapid response training in old hospital RAISSA TETANISH – PUBLISHED IN TRURO DAILY NEWS Officers with the Truro Police Service, including the K-9 unit of Onyx and Const. Justin Russell, were ready to storm into the old hospital on Willow Street during recent rapid response training. The force spent six days in the former Colchester Regional Hospital training with scenarios of an active shooter. have that training and the tools to address the situation.” The course saw officers using their service weapons, using a modified barrel to shoot paint-based rounds, or Simunition. The targets or suspects were also armed and able to shoot back. “We’re utilizing all our weapons – from our shotguns, to pistols to the C8. So that adds some realism to our training” MacNeil said. While officers are continuously training in various aspects, this particular training put together all others, including force and firearms. “This is more tactically-based training, with more movement. It’s not static training. All of our other training helps feed into this as well.” By utilizing the old hospital, that allowed Cormier to present various scenarios to the officers, giving them the opportunity to search the building and locate their suspects. Other scenarios included having shots fired and barricaded persons. “There are lots of stairways and hallways, so it made for some realistic training,” said the chief. “We don’t know when or where this could happen.” rtetanish@trurodaily.com On Twitter: @TDNRaissa
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