ESTEVAN - The Joint Tactical Support Team (JTST) conducted a series of training exercises in Estevan and Weyburn last week, honing their tactical skills in both urban and residential settings.
On Oct. 3, the team trained in Estevan, with exercises taking place in the 1900-block of First Street and at Willow Park Greens Home Park. Additional training was held the next day in Weyburn.
In an email to the Mercury, Det.-Sgt. Trevor Roberts with the EPS said the JTST, which includes officers from both the Estevan Police Service and Weyburn Police Service, carries out monthly, quarterly and annual training to maintain readiness for both pre-planned and emergent deployments. Their training covers a wide range of tactics and scenarios that could require specialty weapons and methods beyond what is typically used by front-line patrol officers.
The team is regularly deployed to handle situations involving firearms and other weapons. The use of the JTST in such cases helps prevent potentially dangerous outcomes in the community. The Weyburn and Estevan police forces also have trained incident commanders, tactical commanders and crisis negotiators. These specialists can be activated alongside the JTST when dealing with high-risk offenders, working to minimize the risk of violence to victims, the public, officers and offenders themselves.
The equipment and tactics used by JTST members require continual training to ensure that they are prepared to respond quickly and effectively when public safety is at risk.
