Some of our viewers called "3 On Your Side" today inquiring about large numbers of police cars travelling together through town. Not to worry - it was all part of training that the mobile field force was conducting.
“We have a specialized unit that moves people who generally don't want to move from places that they shouldn't be, says Lt. Don Lee. Lt. Harry Trawick says, “To give you a sports analogy - if the swat team is the quarterbacks and the wide receivers - these guys are the offensive line.” The unit is called the mobile field force - officers from throughout the department who get together about six times a year to practice their tactics.
“The biggest part of our intimidation factor is we're geared up like this you know, wearing all this extra equipment - we look like we're ready for business,” says Lt. Trawick. It’s important to note that all this gear the mobile field force wears is not bullet-proof - it's merely impact resistant - designed to protect every part of the body that could get struck with an object - most officers still wear a Kevlar vest underneath. They first trained like this in preparation for the G-8 Summit - didn't have to use it then - haven't had to use it on the streets of savannah - not even for St. Patrick's Day. “our crowds are individualized you know, somebody that's had to much to drink or somebody that's coming down to look for trouble, says Lt. Trawick.
They don't like to discuss their tactics - but say they could vary depending on the crowd. As intimidating as they may look - it's only if a crowd refuses to leave that they say they'd move on to other things. The training lasts for eight hours. They conduct it one day about every other month.
Officers volunteer to be part of the unit - one of the most important requirements for the job - a calm temperament.
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