IAWP at the Olympics

There are only 5 days until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games begin! I think you will agree that Margaret is upbeat and prepared to handle the arrival of the world to Vancouver.

Margaret's Musings - Part 2

There are now over 500 personnel working at the Integrated Security Unit. Many specialized resources were brought in early to "sweep" the venues prior to lock-down. If an officer is a dog handler or is qualified in hand search techniques, or even a snowmobile operator, that officer would have already had their assignment and be on the venue preparation schedule. Otherwise, most officers will receive their assignments when they arrive in Theatre.

Photo to the left is Margaret with Corporal Neil Ogurian of Protective Services in front of the Innukshuk at the Nordic Centre in the Callaghan Valley near Whistler.

At the time the Games open, officers from more than 100 police services across Canada, members of the Canadian Forces and private security personnel will be deployed to provide policing and security services. Officers from agencies across the country will be working side by side, wearing the uniforms of the individual departments, proudly representing the diversity of policing in Canada. (Sounds like an IAWP Opening Ceremonies parade - doesn't it?!)

Deployed resources will be assigned to work either the Vancouver area or the Whistler area and are given accommodation in that area. Security operations in each area operate independently; there is no overlap. This is primarily due to the challenges of the commute between Vancouver and Whistler on what is referred to as the Sea-to-Sky Highway - a 100 kilometre stretch of road that hugs the rugged coastline and can be even more challenging in winter weather conditions. Should an event occur on that highway, whether natural (such as a mudslide) or man made (such as a traffic accident), our ability to provide security to the athletes and to the Games will not be compromised.

Photo of Civilian RCMP Radio Dispatcher member Tammy Marshall and her group of co-workers for the Games.

Tammy was sponsored to the IAWP Darwin Conference in 2008. She is seconded to the Olympics to work in the Integrated Command Centre during the games.

Many officers will be calling a cruise ship home for the time they are in Vancouver. The first accommodation vessel arrived in Ballantyne Pier two weeks ago and police officers from across Canada have been arriving ever since then. Are we getting excited? That goes without saying. But, it is also a very individual and personal reaction. There are butterflies in stomachs and pre-stage jitters for some. People are people and, with thousands of officers coming in, there are bound to be varying levels of satisfaction with their individual assignments. In the big picture, however, police officers are perhaps at our best once the planning is done and the operation is underway. We are ready. Bring it on!