Twenty-eight officers from several units of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) have been trained in military police operations under the Florida National Guard State Partnership Programme.
The officers received training in house clearing, active shooter, and civil disturbance.
They officers came from the Special Services, Rapid Response, Special Patrol and Narcotics units as well as the Calliaqua Police Station and the Criminal Investigations Department,
The instructors were Lieutenant Skyler Philbin, Staff Sergeant David Fabelo, Sergeants Brandon Diaz, Almont King, and Garfield Ferdinand of the Florida National Guard.
The course aimed to provide support to the RSVGPF response teams’ capabilities and responsiveness to police activities.
Participants were exposed to a range of teaching principles and techniques that would provide them with the foundational skills necessary for responding to any eventualities, a press release said.
The four-day training programme, which was held at the Argyle Fire Station, was official opened by Commissioner of Police Colin John on Feb. 7.
Course director, Lieutenant William Theobalds, said the participants made constructive and consistent progress throughout the course and expressed satisfaction with the quality of instructions.
He said some participants lacked confidence initially in their practical evolutions but improved tremendously in the culminating exercise.
Theobalds further said that the instructors performed credibly and gave a good account of
themselves.
He stated that they were knowledgeable of the subject areas listed in the syllabus and demonstrated an ability to conduct lessons using a variety of methods, the press release said.
Meanwhile, the police chief advised the participants to be cautious in the execution of their duties and urged them to use the training received to advance their careers as police officers. John suggested that since people were chosen from various units, working together in various operations would be more advantageous.
He also spoke of the expanding crime trend in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the challenges in containing it.
Any training which could result in better policing should be welcomed.