There’s been plenty of conversation lately about a recent string of shelter in place directives surrounding police operations in the capital city and elsewhere.
Three separate shelter in place advisories were issued by RNC, RCMP and even Memorial University involving the Health Sciences over a 24-hour period last week.
RNC Deputy Chief of Regional Patrol Operations Colin McNeil says such orders are made in critical incidents, and usually involve a hostage or barricaded person where firearms and other weapons dangerous to the public are present.
He says when police respond to a scene, they determine what’s happening, and take control of the situation, “and assess the necessary information. So, an individual for example that would be in possession of a firearm is a good example. We isolate that person by containing the scene.”
An incident in Kilbride on Easter Sunday prompted a shelter in place advisory. (Submitted)
That could include evacuating a home, or nearby buildings, and closing an area to traffic to allow police to work safely while keeping the public safe.
He says each situation is unique depending on the location and possible presence of weapons.
McNeil rejects any suggestion that “shelter in place” directives are given due to staff and equipment shortages.
“Absolutely not. There is no tie to shelter in place orders and staffing levels at all.” He says “we’ve seen a couple of these now in the last few weeks and I think it’s important to understand who is issuing the shelter in place order. When a shelter in place order is coming from a police agency, that is quite different than if someone else would issue such an order.”
