Training for a tough job (8 photos)

Sault Ste. Marie is not the quiet, conservative (and, some might say, ’sheltered’ community) it was at one time.

It now faces a wide variety of crimes, ranging from the worsening scourge of the drug trade and all manner of technological crime, apart from the alarming increase in the number of people suffering from addictions and mental health issues.

Darris Ford and Marcus Policicchio, two of six new Sault Ste. Marie Police Service constables, are aware of that and want to keep the Sault a relatively safe and quiet community for families, different from larger urban centres.

“That was definitely a part of my thought process (when applying to become a police officer),” Ford told SooToday.

“I want this place to be as good for my family as it was for me, so yes, there is that sense of protectiveness.”

“I think getting to play this part in keeping Sault Ste. Marie a great place is an honour,” Policicchio said.

The six new constables (Ford, Policicchio, Cst. Chris Gibson, Cst. Darcy Casola, Cst. Brad Nickle and Cst. Adam Campbell) were officially hired by the Sault Police Service Jan. 3, 2017.

As part of their training, the group took part in an Immediate Rapid Deployment (IRD) exercise Thursday afternoon at the former Alexander Henry High School site.

The exercise involved a training scenario in which officers disarmed and arrested a shooter within the school.

Shawn Freeman played ‘the shooter,’ in Thursday afternoon’s training exercise. 

“It’s fun,” said Freeman, a Sault College Justice Studies student, also interested in a policing career.

“I officiate hockey, and a lot of the guys I officiate with are working with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service or other services in the province, so policing became something in the back of my mind,” Policicchio said.

“They seemed like outstanding individuals, people I looked up to, good role models.”

“I talked to them about policing, and it grew on me until it became all I wanted to do.”

“I love Sault Ste. Marie.  I’ve lived in a couple of different communities across the country and the Sault’s a special place to me, there’s a sense of community, so policing to me is a way I can contribute to the community,” Policicchio said.

“I came from the healthcare field originally, but I always had an interest in policing, so I spoke to some friends in the service and I knew it would be a good fit for me,” Ford said.

“I started the application process and it was fairly quick for me, I was fortunate, the timing was right.”

On Jan. 11, the six new Sault Police Service constables began 13 weeks of training at the Ontario Police College (OPC) in Aylmer, Ontario.

Their graduation ceremony took place at Ontario Police College last week.

“We do a traditional march past, which is a military rite, historically speaking.  It’s something they’ve done with every graduating class at Ontario Police College, over 70,000 students in the last 50 years.  It was really rewarding,” Policicchio said.

The new constables began several days of final training back here in the Sault Apr. 10.

That training includes taser certification, administrative training, handgun training, how to deal with certain scenarios and meeting fellow officers within the various Sault Police Service departments.

Taser certification includes being actually subjected to a taser shock.

And, it doesn’t tickle.

“They hook us up, I felt exactly where they put the clips…we’ve got our fellow officers there to support us.  It’s a difficult thing to explain.  It happens, and it sucks, and then it’s done,” Ford said.

“No one can really describe it…Darris and I have both been into athletics in our lives, and it’s like when you wake up in the middle of the night and get a cramp in one of your legs, and it’s like 100 times more than that during that one quick taser burst.  Every muscle between those two probes is completely cramped,” Policicchio said.

The ordeal usually lasts for less than five seconds.

“We were just shy of two seconds.  That was enough,” Ford smiled.

Training will be completed Apr. 21 after the constables review arrest procedures, Mental Health Act details and undergo further weapons training.

They will be officially sworn in as constables (a swearing in ceremony is usually performed by a judge).  

“We’ll finish classroom stuff and then we’ll be dispersed with coach officers, two to a car in the day, and basically we watch, we pay attention to the radio, we learn how everything comes together, the multi-tasking,” Ford said.

“Historically, people get tremendous help from their coach officers,” Policicchio said.

“You can only do scenarios for so long until you actually get thrown into the fire and feel what it’s like, to have that adrenalin rush.  Even if it’s a simple traffic stop, your hands are going to be shaking,” Ford said.

Regardless, the six are clearly excited, well trained and confident.

“It’s what we want to do,” Ford said.

The six were joined in classroom training Thursday morning at the Sault Police Services building by Special Constables Kaitlin Morin and Lindsey Eaton.

Special Constables are unarmed, but carry handcuffs, and perform duties such as prisoner transport and court security.

Being a special constable is often a stepping stone toward becoming a police constable.

Morin and Eaton are off to the Ontario Police College later in the spring.