Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Emergency Response Team (ERT)
The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Emergency Response Team (ERT) is made up of frontline personnel who have additional specialized training, providing support to our communities in the time of crisis as well as assistance at major events/ venues where there is a heightened concern or possibility for violence and/ or disorder. Members are strategically located at Detachments throughout the province and NAN Communities, ready to respond on-demand.
Responsibilities
In addition to their front-line duties, Emergency Response Team (ERT) members have specialized training and responsible for:
- Canine tracking back-up
- Containment at barricaded or hostage taking incidents
- Search and rescue
- Evidence search
- Public Order at events such as protests, riots, strikes or other major events
- VIP security
- Witness protection
- Executing non high-risk warrants
- Low-slope rope rescue
- High-risk prisoner escorts, and
- any other situation the Regional Commander deems requires their expertise
Members must maintain a constant state of readiness as they can be called out with little notice and are often required to work away from their homes for extended periods of time.
They also must maintain a high level of physical fitness. The working environment during an incident may be unpredictable and subject to rapidly changing factors.
Training
It is important for the success of the ERT program that the appropriate candidates are selected for this challenging role. New team members must have successfully completed an assessment and intensive basic training course. The course is physically and mentally demanding and gives the candidates the knowledge and skills they need to be effective ERT members.
ERT members must continually demonstrate exceptional integrity, sound judgement under stress, leadership and effective communication skills, as well as the ability to problem-solve and take initiative.
History
The NAPS Emergency Response Team was officially formed in 2010 consisting of 16 members and integrated with the OPP in 2014 increasing the available resources and members to the communities to which we serve.