Students from St. Clair College’s Protection, Security and Investigations (PSI) and Police Foundations programs recently travelled to London to participate in a specialized Public Order Unit training exercise organized by the London and Windsor Police Services.
The early-morning trip provided students with a unique opportunity to contribute to realistic police training while gaining valuable insight into the challenges officers face when managing large, potentially volatile crowds. Due to the sensitive nature of the exercise, all participants were required to undergo criminal record checks before taking part.
This year’s simulated scenario focused on farmers protesting the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail Project, which would potentially pass through farmland in Southern Ontario.
Students embraced their roles by creating protest signs and dressing in traditional farm attire, helping create an authentic and challenging training environment. A variety of crowd-control techniques and simulated effects, including Molotov cocktails, smoke bombs and explosive sound effects, added to the realism as officers practiced responding to an increasingly agitated crowd.
“We appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the Windsor and London Police training, and we all had a lot of fun doing it,” said Tyr Peter Koersvelt, a second-year Police Foundations student at St. Clair College. “We got to see some of the tactics used by our public order units firsthand and how officers must make split second decisions.”
“And I'd be lying if I said it wasn't fun to get to yell nonsense, watch some simulated explosives, and throw water balloons all day,” Koersvelt said. “Hopefully we provided a rowdy enough crowd for the officers, and we will be invited out again next year.”
The exercise demonstrated the importance of communication, teamwork, professionalism, and sound decision-making in public order situations. Students were active participants throughout the day, helping officers develop and refine the skills required to manage complex public demonstrations safely and effectively.
Following the exercises, students had the opportunity to meet with police officers and training organizers, ask questions, discuss their experiences and build professional connections.
“As program coordinator, I was extremely proud of the professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by our students,” said Prof. Ed Marocko. “Opportunities like this allow students to move beyond the classroom and contribute meaningfully to the training of police professionals.”
The students also appreciated the opportunity to experience a realistic training environment, interact with police officers and better understand the demands of public order policing.
“Experiences like this reinforce the value of practical, hands-on learning and help prepare our graduates for future careers in policing, security and public safety,” said Prof. Marocko.
St. Clair College extends its sincere thanks to the London and Windsor Police Services and their training teams for their tremendous effort in organizing this exercise and for including St. Clair students in such a valuable learning experience.
