Pubdate: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Darren Bernhardt CITY POLICE'S CRACK ERT UNIT LETS SP REPORTER IN ON ACTION Charging into a house, wielding a submachine gun and kicking open doors is not a conventional day in the life of a reporter, but it's not every day the police emergency response team invites you over for a play date. My trigger finger still smells of cordite. And the bridge of my nose is covered in a black soot-like substance from the smoke of a flash-bang canister grenade set off to disorient the "bad guys" while we stormed a dilapidated bungalow at the ERT firearm range north of the city. The explosive ejects a powder that ignites and burns instantly to produce an acoustic pulse and bright flash of light. The pressure wave rattles windows and floorboards. Lights on our weapons illuminate the haze and the commotion. Within seconds our suspect -- Const. Mike Powiada -- is subdued and laying prone on the ground. As for me, I'm just getting started. "That was great; let's do it again. This time I'll be the bad guy." How can it not be exciting? I spent the day playing cops and robbers, firing a fully automatic Glock and running around in a 30-pound Kevlar vest, bulletproof helmet and goggles. "That'll stop everything but tank artillery," Const. Ken Kane said about the metal plating in the vest's chest. "It's heavy, but better being heavy than being dead." The Saskatoon ERT is the equivalent of the elite SWAT division in the United States. The purpose of Wednesday's exercise was to provide insight and hands-on experience in the methods police use to deal with potentially volatile situations. It was the first time ever the special tactical unit opened wide its doors to the public. "At different times we've done different things as a demonstration. But it's always been done kind of piecemeal -- never to an extent like this," said Sgt. Grant Little, a 15-year veteran of the team, which consists of about 20 highly trained officers. "People keep telling us, 'You guys should explain some of the things you do, you're always so secretive.' We don't think we're being secretive, it's just that we don't go around waving our hands in the air, saying, 'Look at us, look at us.' "So we thought, 'Why not? Let's do this,' " Little says as he presses nine-millimetre rounds, one by one with a crisp click, into a magazine, glancing down every so often to see how full it is. Still, I wasn't convinced handing high-powered weapons to reporters was such a good idea. It's difficult enough to handle a misfiring pen. We were treated to a rare look at the ERT catalogue: Tear gas, shotguns, shields, masks, rappelling equipment, battering rams (painted with dashes of White Out to indicate the number of successful uses), gas guns, 50,000-volt Tasers and a variety of ammunition such as 12-gauge beanbag shells and pepper spray. Members arrive at a scene concealed in black balaclavas, gloves and dark uniforms (or camouflage colours). They move precisely, with gestures more than words. There is an air of the unknown to the observer, which creates that perception of secrecy. "It's not to make us look like ninjas -- 'cause we're definitely not," said Const. Darcel Pittman. "It's more for anonymity and a little bit of intimidation, I suppose." The element of surprise is often more important than the Glock sidearm, whose bullets can travel through bones and flesh in a blink. "If you can do this job without having to use any of this equipment, that's a perfect day," said Little, noting in 15 years of action he has never discharged a gun in the line of duty. "No, Grant just bores them to death," commented one team member, forcing a smile out of Little, who quickly responded, "Whatever works." Saskatoon's ERT was formed in 1975. The first such tactical team was established in the U.S. in the late 1960s, when patrol officers kept engaging in "free-for-all shootouts with bad guys," Little said. Members are presently all male, although female officers are welcome. It's just that guys "seem to be more excited about guns," he said. Every time one member finished waxing poetic about his weapon of choice another would up the ante. "Now we'll get into the fun stuff. You're going to really enjoy this," said Const. Dean Hoover, holding a MP5 submachine gun like those presently at work in Afghanistan and Iraq. For Const. Wes Ramsay, the Taser is most intimidating. With a rapid clackety sound like a hockey card on bicycle spokes, 50,000 volts of electricity leap across the gap between two points on the gun's head. It will totally incapacitate you, disrupting muscle and electromagnetic nerve signals and leaving you in a whimpering heap on the floor, he explained. "It's like getting hit over the head with a two-by-four. All I remember is screaming," Ramsay said, recalling his training experience. When a reporter asked whether it causes a loss of bladder control, an officer at the back of the room offered this: "Everything tightens up so bad, you couldn't stuff a grain of rice into your . . . well, you know." Jokes aside, using a weapon in a real-life situation is terrifying, said Little. Dealing with stress through breathing exercises are as much a part of training as target practice. Being as prepared as possible cuts down on the stress of the unknown, so members train regularly and study situations such as the Columbine massacre to see how better things could be handled. In that situation, had police used long-range, high-powered weapons, the gun-toting killers would have been shot long before they killed so many students, said Sgt. Glenn Cox. Instead, police used handguns and shotguns, which have limited range. As a result of that incident, Saskatoon's ERT practices whenever it can in the hallways of local high schools during the summer months. Before it was demolished, the Gathercole building was used for rehearsing explosive-assisted entries. When the team is called to action, there's no time for rehearsing the playbook. Decisions are made at once; An entire gameplan is set out in seconds -- who's first through a door, who's carrying the non-lethal ammunition, who's on the scope, who will give an order to kill, if necessary -- all without knowing the people and their firepower or the layout of the building into which they're rushing. On the firing range, with safety glasses and ear protection, reporters tested the firepower at the ERT's disposal. I was pretty good until the switch on the Glock was turned to full automatic. Then it was like water blasting through a loose hose as bullets sprayed across the target, outside the lines and into the gravel-and-grass berm. Next, Const. Kane and I were set to rush one-two into a vacant house as part of the flash-bang exercise. He advised me to loudly yell, "Police! Get on the ground!" as we burst through the door. Bad guys are usually compliant unless they think it's a rival gang so you have to be clear. As we rushed the house, I gave Kane a cushion of several feet so he could work the room. Once he had Const. Powiada fully under control I made a valiant effort to kick wide a half-open door to an obviously vacant room, clear my throat and politely ask anyone present to co-operate. Seeing no one, I went to the kitchen and let Const. Grant Linklater pass me. Then I asked him if it was all clear. The day wrapped up after that as I stood outside with an inflated chest as though I'd just protected the prime minister. Little thanked us for coming out, and I thanked him for making me feel safe about Saskatoon -- and for taking the gun out of my hands. - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman