Multi-agency SWAT training prepares officers ‘for the worst’

POCATELLO – Officers from multiple agencies across the southeast Idaho region recently participated in a training that prepares them for high-stress situations in Pocatello.

Over the course of this week, seven agencies took part in a SWAT training course, which was hosted by the Pocatello Police Department. SWAT officers from these agencies practiced how they would respond to risky and dangerous situations, to maintain readiness to respond to a situation like that in their own community, if one were to occur.

“We prepare for the worst, and … it’s just important to cover all your bases for whatever could happen,” said Pocatello Police Lt. Akilah Lacey.

The training took place in a formerly vacant building owned by Pocatello’s Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships. The building, which is the former Convergys call center, gives officers room to run drills in hallways, stairwells and open areas, to prepare for how they would move through an unfamiliar property during an emergency.

“As far as the structure itself, it lends perfect to training. … It’s a massive structure, so they can do some interesting tactical maneuvers in it, and we’re just grateful that we have the police department and (can have) the SWAT training here in Pocatello,” said Jared Mangum, HACP director.

To take part in the training, officers must first meet higher standards than patrol officers typically need to. Lacey said SWAT work is reserved for those who can pass tougher shooting qualifications and physical fitness tests, and they have to keep meeting those expectations over time.

“They have to go through a rigorous tryout. … They’re basically the cream of the crop,” Lacey said

During the course, officers trained for a range of scenarios they could encounter on the job, including serving warrants on high-risk individuals to responding to active shooter situations. And thanks to trainings like this, Lacey said that the officers handle these scenarios well.

“These guys are so smooth. They get it done,” Lacey said.

He said that by rehearsing these situations in a controlled setting, it helps to ensure that they would be, and are handled effectively in the real world.

“Sometimes there are serious things that happen, but due to us having this training … it goes a lot better than what it would be with us not having that training,” Lacey said.

Lacey added that even in a smaller city like Pocatello, officers have to be ready to respond to incidents that the community doesn’t expect to see.

“Most (of the) public will think, ‘Oh, it’s little Pocatello, we don’t need to worry about these things.’ … You want to have that training because if something happens and you’re not prepared for it, that’s a bad thing,” Lacey said.

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