In an outstanding display of collaboration, 41 students from St. Clair College's Police Foundations program recently volunteered alongside peers from Fanshawe College and Lambton College to participate in a joint "Protest Training" exercise in London, Ont.
This experiential learning event offered students the chance to act as protesters in a controlled training environment with Public Order Units from London Police, Windsor Police, and LaSalle Police.
The students enthusiastically took on their roles, simulating various scenarios of civil unrest. The training incorporated pyrotechnics, simulated explosions, and physical disobedience to create an intense, realistic environment where officers could practice de-escalation techniques and tactical response strategies.
Windsor Police Deputy Chief Jason Crowley was at the simulation and said they like to utilize students at these training scenarios for numerous reasons.
"When students engage in our training scenarios, it provides them with insight to other aspects of policing that they might not have previously experienced or known about," said Deputy Chief Crowley. "Public order training is relatively new for the Windsor Police Service and can be very dynamic. It's a reality in policing, yet most people have not had the immersive experience that the students receive when participating in that or other police training."
According to Ed Marocko, a professor and coordinator of the Police Foundations program at St. Clair College, the presence of college students in these training exercises greatly benefits police services and the communities they serve.
By introducing a diverse range of role-playing "protesters," officers are exposed to a variety of realistic scenarios that they could encounter in actual public order situations. For police commanders, it provides an opportunity to refine strategic decisions and evaluate response protocols in a controlled environment, ensuring their officers are well-prepared for real-life incidents.
"The emergence of mental health and addiction issues has certainly changed the way police train, with de-escalation training being at the forefront," said Crowley. "Our community has embraced diversity and training has reflected that as well. Our officers are trained to recognize cultural sensitivities like never before, to ensure our citizens are treated with respect and dignity."
"Preparing our officers for active attacker scenarios, large scale civil disobedience and extremism has also been adopted in our training," Crowley said. "Over the last 25 years or so, the landscape in policing has changed dramatically, so the policing community had to adapt to a more modern, evolved style of training to maintain public safety."
For the students, this unique opportunity to act out scenarios is an invaluable snapshot to the modern realities of policing, allowing them to experience the profession beyond the classroom.
"The real-world application enhances their understanding of policing protocols, crowd control techniques, and the complexities of maintaining public safety in challenging situations," said Marocko.
Students also had the chance to connect with serving officers from three different police forces, as well as peers from other colleges, fostering relationships and expanding their professional networks.
"Such interactions can be essential for students as they begin to explore future career paths within law enforcement and related fields," said Marocko.
The PSI/Police Foundations Program looks forward to continuing its involvement in these training events, contributing to the professional development of its students, and supporting initiatives that enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of local law enforcement.
