“It does get us out of our normal comfort zone”: Colorado Springs police, firefighters to travel to Georgia for advanced joint training

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado Springs first responders will get the chance to take part in advanced joint training at a state-of-the-art facility over the weekend.

On May 5, 12 police officers and 9 firefighters will travel to Guardian Centers near Perry, Georgia, for five days of intensive, advanced training.

“Anywhere from active shooter to active hostile to multiple casualty incident, MCI response type scenarios,” firefighter Cameron Halverson said. “It’s all geared towards real-life scenarios that one we’ve already seen in the city, that we’ve seen nationwide, and unfortunately that’s just how things are nowadays so it’s a better prepare for when the next big incident comes into our city.”

Lt. John Havenar with the Colorado Springs Police Department said police and fire crews work well together when they’re on scene together.

“This will kind of dial in those skills and that response so that we could be most effective and make those rescues,” he said.

Those with the Police Foundation of Colorado Springs said the facility is unique as it can be reconfigured to put crews in realistic training scenarios.

“It’s an absolutely unique facility where they can replicate and they are going to actually replicate our downtown,” president Nicole Magic said.

Funding for the trip is coming from the Police Foundation, including airfare, lodging, training, food, and more.

”It’s all-inclusive, the department pays absolutely nothing for the fire and police to go to this training center,” Magic said.

Magic said the cost of the training is far outweighed by how much the community will benefit.

“It keeps our community safer because our first responders are trained at a higher level,” she said.

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