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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 24, 2010 · 4 Halton cops on guard in Toronto for G20 conference By Tim Whitnell METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Close to 230 Halton police uniformed officers will be providing security at the upcoming G20 conference in downtown Toronto. Halton's contingent will be part of the 12,000-member throng of officers from various police services across Canada, including the RCMP, that will be providing security at the political summit. The high-level global economic summit, which is attracting world leaders, takes place Saturday and Sunday. Approximately 140 Halton police officers per day will be deployed for conference security under the command of the Toronto Police service. They will work days and afternoons from June 21-27. "It's been a long process, a couple of months. They were provided excellent training, several hours of online training that they had to complete," said Halton police Superintendent Signy Pittman, who is coordinating the service's involvement in the G20 security. Pittman noted some Halton supervisory officers had to attend an intensive one-day G20 training session in person in Toronto. She said Halton cops will be deployed in teams of about 30 along with some officers from other services. Halton's officers will wear their own uniform and a baseball cap. "They will be supplied with a communications system, a gas mask and a hard helmet. They carry everything they would carry with them on the front line." Signy Pittman, Halton Regional Police Superintendent coordinating the service's G20 security involvement The local police contingent is comprised of supervisors, constables, sergeants, staff sergeants and plainclothed intelligence officers. Three marine unit officers are also being sent, along with the service's new police boat, to help patrol Toronto's harbour. One of the three marine officers will work aboard a Canadian Coast Guard vessel. Halton Staff-Sgt. Chris Lawson, in charge of one of the 30-officer contingents, said his group will be used in the Interdiction Zone. They will be patrolling inside the long, tall metal fenced-in portion of the downtown. "We'll be covering four city blocks," Lawson said of the area of responsibility for his three teams of 10 officers. Lawson said the inner-control zone, in and around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, is staffed by RCMP officers only. Their first day of duty on Monday was productive, said Lawson, noting a team of Halton officers uncovered what they believe are caches of items hidden to possibly be used by G8 and G20 protesters. Articles found, he said, were beer bottles, a square piece of granite and sharpened sticks. Lawson said one battle officers will have to wage is with dehydration. With hot weather forecasted for the week and with each officer carrying about 35 pounds of equipment all day, they'll need to use the many watering stations that have been set within the control zones. "They will be supplied with a communications system, a gas mask and a hard helmet. They carry everything they would carry with them on the front line," said Pittman, referring to handcuffs, a handgun, baton and pepper spray. "We hope things go smoothly and everyone comes back safely," she said. She noted Halton police is also sending a mix of civilian staff that will be deployed to the G20 staging site to address cleaning, storage and the distribution of equipment required by front-line workers. The six individuals will work two different shifts and augment what the Toronto police service already has in place. Pittman said because all Halton officers' vacation and discretionary time off have been suspended for this week, and with training time reduced as well, staff became available for the G20. She said her understanding is that the entire cost of deploying the 230 Halton officers will be paid by the federal government. Some Halton officers working in Toronto are on straight time and some are being paid overtime with the majority having volunteered for the G20 duty, said Pittman. She said Halton communities will have the same number of officers, or more, on or available for duty since the number of officers being sent to Toronto is balanced by the suspension of vacations, other time off and decreased training time. ··· Major traffic gridlock during the upcoming G8 and G20 summits is expected to make commuting a nightmare for motorists. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) South Central Ontario is reminding drivers to be prepared for significant delays on Hwy. 401, Hwy. 427, the QEW, the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway as world leaders are escorted by police into and out of the GTA from June 24-27. Drivers should stay away from the G20 Summit Traffic Zone bordered by Spadina Avenue, King Street West, Yonge Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West. The CAA suggests motorists plan alternate routes ahead of time, use public transit when possible and allow extra time. CAA members calling for roadside assistance should be prepared for longer than normal wait times. For G8/G20 updates check www3.ttc.ca or www.gotransit.com. The G8/G20 Integrated Security Unit Twitter Feed is at www.twitter.com/g8g20isuca. LET US DESIGN YOUR LANDSCAPE STARTING AT $150.00 INCL. TAX Book Now and Pay the GST Only! 31 DUNDAS ST. E. 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