Calgary police officers are taking intensive training in crowd control and learning how to deal with biological and chemical weapons to prepare for the G-8 summit in June.
Since March, the force's 1,420 rank and file officers have been undergoing protester awareness training, including use of riot gear, body armour, gas masks and fire retardant clothing.
On Monday, about 200 city police and RCMP officers will hold a joint training exercise at Penhold, southwest of Red Deer.
The training exercises are part of what is being billed as the largest security operation in Canadian history.
"We're of the opinion that all of our officers, whether they are tied directly to G-8 duties or not, should have some mandatory training with respect to protester awareness," says Calgary police Insp. Al Redford.
"We've been working on that since early March and we'll go all the way through until our sworn members have completed it."
Police officers will attend crowd control unit demonstrations, and spend hours in the classroom learning how to deal with biological and chemical weapons.
Seasoned officers with the police support section are instructing fellow officers how to handle the millions of dollars of equipment purchased to safeguard the two-day meeting in Kananaskis June 26-27.
Provincial Crown prosecutors are training police officers about the powers of arrest and what is considered an offence during public protests.
Calgary's paramedics are organizing their own special training to deal with the Summit.
"Realistically we need to be as prepared as possible," says Emergency Medical Services officer Mike Plato.
Paramedics are being schooled to work with security forces whether providing medical treatment to protesters, authorities or bystanders.
"We're looking at different chemicals and irritants used by protesters, whether it be pepper spray or a wide variety of gases," says Plato.
Police officers and paramedics will conduct drills with the specially trained crowd control unit.
"(Police) will practise such things as line formation , and techniques for working with the mountain bike unit and working with canine," says Redford.
Exercises with the force's new $1.1-million armoured rescue vehicles will ensure police and paramedics can be shuttled in or out of areas during volatile situations.
"That could be a police officer who had gotten themselves in a tough spot or an injured bystander or protester. "Fighting your way through a crowd isn't an answer," says Redford.
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