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An armoured vehicle is the newest addition to the Truro Police Service and will be used as part of a new regional tactical support team.
The truck was previously used by security company GardaWorld. The interior includes a bench for a team of officers, a desk where an incident commander can work, equipment storage and a rescue basket for injured victims.
David MacNeil, chief of police, said the donated vehicle will be used as a command post in longer investigations in addition to high-risk situations.
“The type of calls would be maybe an armed and dangerous person, a barricaded person, high-risk drug warrant, you know, God forbid like an active shooter situation, that kind of thing,” he said.
“The truck obviously is part of that deployment. It goes to enhance officer and public safety by providing ballistic protection to the community.”
MacNeil said the truck could also assist with evacuations during dangerous situations.
Tactical team
It is the second armoured vehicle to be part of a new multi-agency tactical response team. The Amherst Police Department also has a retired GardaWorld armoured vehicle.
Five members each from the Truro and Amherst police forces are on the team. Stellarton and Westville departments are each contributing two officers.
“By working together, we are able to deliver a more efficient, co-ordinated, and safer response for our communities and our officers,” said Mark Hobeck, chief of police for Westville and Stellarton, in a news release last month.
MacNeil said the team is ready for its first deployment after starting three years ago. He said the training provided exceeds provincial policing standards.
“It allows us to have a team of officers that are highly trained with specialized equipment, and all municipalities share the cost of that,” said MacNeil.
The Nova Scotia RCMP emergency response team based in Halifax will also continue to be available for situations in the communities.
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