CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Students and law enforcement officials gather for mock training scenario

A team of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers and Ontario Police College (OPC) representatives visited the college's Kitchener -- Doon campus for a police training event on November 7.

A mock VIP speaking event was staged to evaluate trainees taking part in the OPP Specialized Police Operations Training Section's close protection course. The trainees, existing OPP officers, were evaluated by senior colleagues which included members of the OPC.  

"This is a very specialized police training program that focuses on dignitary protection, so we're focused on the premier and various ministers and mayors, and there's a witness protection component as well," said Rebecca Cansdale, provincial coordinator for close protection, crisis negotiations and incident response support with OPC.

The event also provided Conestoga students with valuable exposure to police operations, as more than 100 student volunteers were on hand to form a mock crowd and get a close-up view of how the officers operated.

The event is the culmination of the three-week close protection course the OPP officers have been attending at Guelph Police Service and entailed two separate runs of the mock scenario, with students able to connect with officers after each.

"I volunteered because I thought it would be a good experience to take part in the special training," said Rehan Pir, a second-year Police Foundations student who took notes on how the officers patrolled the site. 

"I thought they had a lot of control over the event. There was lots of security around and every single point was covered. I thought they handled the situation very well."

Fellow second-year Police Foundations student Stan Pratasousky said he also benefitted from the information and knowledge he gained from volunteering.  

"I volunteered today to get an insider on what the more specialized units look like," said Pratasousky.

"It's interesting to see how it works. What their process is. I like how intense some of these officers really look in. How they scan the process. It's interesting, the little details they pick up."  

In addition to Police Foundations, student volunteers from the Advanced Police Studies and Protection, Security and Investigation programs were also present.

"We were pleased to welcome the OPC and OPP to our campus. The opportunity for our students to observe, learn and connect with law enforcement enhanced their classroom learning. These simulation-based events complement the theoretical portion of our courses," said Marvin Mustin, chair, Community Safety.

Cansdale also spoke highly of the OPC's work with Conestoga.

"We knew one of the Police Foundations professors, so we had a connection. And we came out and visited Conestoga's facility, and it was just the amazing cooperation and excitement to have us, and to be able to put this on and include them in what we were trying to achieve."

Conestoga's two-year Police Foundations diploma program is an integrated learning experience that helps students develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of a preferred candidate in public-sector law enforcement. The program focuses on understanding justice through a lens of social equity and modern policing and has been designed to provide an overall base for a variety of careers in criminal justice and public safety through a combination of theory and simulation-based experiences.

Conestoga's School of Community Services is a leader in translating students' passions for working with people and making a difference in community into successful careers in human services and community safety.