A substantial police presence was notable at a local high school and its nearby neighborhood in Prince George, British Columbia, this week as the RCMP conducted a live emergency response training exercise. The event, held at Duchess Park Secondary School on Thursday, involved numerous uniformed and plainclothes officers, police vehicles, and armored vehicles, with actors portraying an active threat scenario to enhance realism and intensity for the participating officers.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, the media relations officer for Prince George RCMP, mentioned that the exercise would include loud noises, yelling, and screaming to create a dynamic simulated scenario. Cooper clarified that the training was not a direct response to the previous mass shooting incident in Tumbler Ridge in February 2026 but rather part of the ongoing training regimen for the RCMP.
The choice of the school for the training exercise was due to its empty state during the summer, providing an ideal setting for running various scenarios. Inspector Chris Riddle, the operations officer for Prince George RCMP, emphasized that the exercise served as a valuable supplement to the local training unit, bringing together different specialized teams to simulate real-life scenarios for officers to practice critical decision-making under stress.
Riddle highlighted that the training scenarios focused on situations involving individuals causing harm to others, aiming to equip officers with the necessary skills to identify and neutralize threats effectively. Cooper shared her experience of participating in similar training exercises before joining the police force, emphasizing the value of gaining insight into the challenges officers face daily.
Both Cooper and Riddle expressed their intention to organize more live-action training events for Prince George officers in the future. They emphasized the benefits of such exercises in enhancing officer skills and readiness for handling challenging situations effectively.