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POLICE ACTION was just a simulation — part of the required training for those units called out in the most extreme situations. In those cases, the triangle approach is used, with the incident command at the top and the tactical Mark Brett (armed) and negotiating teams at either point below. Western News Staff Although the participants have regular duties at Getting inside the erratic mind of a potential killer other detachments, each has specialized and ongoing with innocent victims at his disposal is not an easy training for their speci¿c role. “The skill set that these members have, it’s unique task — something Cpl. Brenda Daly knows all too in the RCMP and it’s one well. that they test here today in For the past 12 years this scenario,” said Cpl. in her role as the RCBrian Burke of the PenMP’s hostage negotiator ticton RCMP, the training she has been involved in co-ordinator for the prosome extremely volatile gram. “Unlike what you situations. see on TV, the goal in any “Each one is differactual call-out or training ent and every person you environment is to have a deal with is different, so peaceful resolution. Howwhat we try to do is get ever, we do have options as much information as available to us that if it we can before we make escalates and we have to contact,” said Daly, who use any level of force, we works out the Kelowna need to take someone into detachment and is the current leader for the Mark Brett/Western News custody or save somebody’s life, then we have southeast negotiating CONST. MIKE DIBBLEE applies camouflage those resources.” team. “These people are makeup to his face prior to deployment from The fact this event was often in a very stressed the team meeting place in Summerland. only an exercise did not state because of the situation, so we try and calm them down and usually ev- lessen the efforts or seriousness in which the matter erything is very Àuid, but especially with a hostage, was treated by those taking part. As the large mobile command and communicawe want to get them out as soon as possible.” That was particularly true in one of her most re- tions unit where Daly would work was set up, camcent cases in which she had to deal with a man who ouÀaged members armed with submachine guns walked into a bank in Chase armed with a bomb, gun stealthily made their way through the forest to set up a perimeter around the building. and knife. While some responders like Kamloops members After a ¿ve-hour standoff, the suspect gave up to Const. Patrick Ellis and Cpl. Chris Bannerholt were ERT members waiting outside the building. And the corporal’s negotiating skills were once deployed by the police helicopter, others were moved again called to task earlier this week when over 30 to the region by ground transportation. This particular exercise was under the direction members of the Southeast ERT team converged on a small cabin in the forested area around Agur Lake of incident commander Staff Sgt. Kevon Sellers of Kelowna. just west of Summerland. The difference this time was the hostage incident See POLICE - Page 14
RCMP Emergency Response Team practise tactics near Summerland
Mark Brett/Western News
CONST. PATRICK ELLIS (left) and Cpl. Chris Bannerholt of the Kamloops RCMP detachment move through the trees in an area of Agur Lake on their way to a cabin where hunters have taken people hostage during a training exercise for members of the Southeast emergency response team this week.