A significant presence of law enforcement officers was visible at a local high school and its surrounding area in Prince George, B.C., this week as the RCMP conducted a live emergency response training exercise. The event involved numerous uniformed and plainclothes officers, police vehicles, and armored vehicles gathering at Duchess Park Secondary School on Thursday to participate in the scenario, which included actors simulating an active threat situation.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, the media relations officer for Prince George RCMP, mentioned that the use of actors in the exercise aimed to enhance the realism and intensity for police officers facing real-life scenarios. Residents in the neighborhood were alerted to expect loud noises, shouting, and commotion during the dynamic simulated scenario.
Cooper clarified that the training exercise was not a direct response to the mass shooting incident in Tumbler Ridge in February 2026 but rather part of the ongoing training efforts by the RCMP. The selection of the school building was strategic as it was vacant of students during the summer, providing an ideal setting for running various training scenarios.
Insp. Chris Riddle, the operations officer for Prince George RCMP, highlighted that the exercise complemented the local training unit’s work by involving the North District Emergency Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, and General Investigative Section. The scenarios focused on situations involving individuals causing harm to others, aiming to prepare officers to swiftly and effectively address threats in real-life scenarios.
Cooper shared her previous experience as an actor in a live-action training exercise with the Abbotsford Police Department, emphasizing the chaotic nature of such situations and the insights gained into the challenges faced by police officers daily. Riddle expressed his intention to organize more live-action training events for Prince George officers in the future to enhance their skills and readiness for similar situations. The participation in such training was deemed rewarding by the officers involved, providing valuable learning experiences.