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Haton Regional Police The Free Press Wed March 1976 Special Weapons Unit rescues bank manager in mock exercise Stories and Photos by Gerry Flaherty The mock drama began at in the morning when a man with a stick of dynamite in his possession gained entry to a bank branch on Mam St S in Georgetown The man demanded money from the bank manager and for some reason decided he wasnt getting the he wanted and took the manager hostage The man armed with the then took the bank manager out to a waiting car and about one mile south on Main St toanaban cement silo located south of Maple Ave where Mam St becomes country road The bandit and his hostage entered the silo and waited for the expected police nego tiations to begin The man demanded money and his freedom or both he and the bank manager would die in a dynamite explosion Police on scene By this time a regular police cruiser with several officers inside was maintain surveillance of the silo from a distance In the Georgetown station which is North head for Halton Regional meanwhile Floyd Schwanti was on the phone to Inspector Allan Stansbury in describing what was hap pening The inspector and a year police veteran quickly order his IB man Special Weapons Unit into action Police radio dispatchers were advised and at a m calls went out to pre cincts in Acton Milton Bur and Oakville for all members of the special squad to get to Georgetown in a hurry Many at home In many cases the officers were not on duly and were phoned at home They were unaware that it was a tieesesbion and did not know an exercise was to take place on day themen had arrived at Georgetown Precinct where they changed into their blue jumpsuits and grabbed their weapons in eluding 12 gauge shotguns calibre rifles and calibre rifles with telescopic sights They also grabbed gas masks extra ammunition pistols and bullet proof vests By 10 the Special pons Unit was on tht scene and being briefed by Staff Sergeant Eric Bullock of Bur lington Precinct the units tactical manoeuvres officer Silo surrounded Right off the bat he sent three men armed with high powered rifles through snow covered fields and trees to get behind the silo to en sure the bandit no escape route Those three men were later visible as they lay on the ground with rifles aimed 100 yards east of the silo The unit was divided into several teams all in radio contact with each other and the operation was underway Vertical silo has about seven open windows on its west side and sharpshooter Scr Dick Hilton was set up on the edge of the road where he lay down on a yellow ground sheet and took aim Hi is from Georgetown Pre- said later that as a last resort Sgt Hilton would have been or dertd to pick the bandit off through one of the v mdows if lie could At this point dent was on a megaphone with the bandit and telling him that the police were willing to make ileal if the bank man hostage wis not hurt and that the bandit would not be hurt by police The bandit had major problem which he realize in that the silo has a blind side on the north And the tear gas team also armed with rifles STAFF SERGEANT ERIC BULLOCK the tact ical manoeuvres officer of the Special Weapons Unit points as he briefs his men on the latest developments in and around the cement block silo where a bank manager being held hostage Correcton in account The of Joseph in It w is omitted from tht list of mourners in lree Press of the funinl of his brother John Van who is hunt in on March The lite Mr Van is also survived his John in his wife the former Undent Arthur Street two other brothers Vit V in Orange Mirk Vin of It I Acton ind three sisters Mrs Mirth of MishMJKfieVin and Miss Jo Vin Six more join Ys Men Last night six new members joined tht Acton s Men Club are Jim I I Douglas Brian Weber Hill pistols were able to through the fields and get up next to tht silo iced They all wore bullet proof vests and masks As negotiations continued Sergeant John Wilson of Milton left the gas group to sneak along the side of tht silo and with a fast right handed toss sent a tear mister flying into the silo minister back nnister exploded and gas smoke from two lower windows of the silo In seconds the blinded ban stumbled from the silo and was jumped by tin g is He is led away in hind cuffs inker is Inspector com of Hit Sptenl Wei pons Unit on the scene that the is very it worked out well lie snd the dieted told him he could two of the officers involved in the mil tlitv were so well and so far iw mtn behind the silo that lie 1 hit them with rifle fire injw Strict orders Inspector inter m Ins said the members of Hit Spteial Unit have strict orders when it tonus to shooting He s they ij shoot on Hit order of the or if it is ihsoluttlv nteessirj lo pro theirownhvtsor the life of someone else 1 liking Kins Ik said all the men ike il targtt sessions it tin Hilton Hi 1olici shot iih on top of tint lit Serge ml Hilton who is used is tin slurp shooter in the inoek could with his rifle with tele stopit siflit hit i pirt from a distance of yards which is three fool ball fields away has been done in practice sessions he said Never used In north Special Weapons Unit has practiced in North before but has never been called out for real in the north The unit though has been tailed for real twite in its twoyear history once in the part of and most recently in Inspector the it occurred last fill on and involved a lone m in believed he mentally ill who was with rifle and holed Up in house Hie officers somt of the Unit members managed to silently tin ik through a door surprised the m in and overpowered him in his living Sunt Unit is the same as the SWAT Weapons 1 I unit of the I os Police Department which is featured in the series of the s ime Asked why the unit wis formed in Inspector St are very iw in of situ go on around us in loronto Cat Vancouver London Out I We wc have lobe iltlv lined and equipped with situations such as host or where ive minimis who be ittd from their vintage lit ter would rooftop sniper tin nidi who is diet in tin AS A LAST RESORT police sharpshooters using Remington calibre rifles with telescopic sights would be ordered to shoot if possible some one involved in a major criminal act Taking aim during last weeks mock drama in North Halton was Sergeant Dick Hilton of Georgetown Precinct A police spokesman said the sharpshooters receive special training are very accurate and can hit a person in a vital part of his body from a distance of 300 yards three football fields GRAND O SALE March 25 26 27 SHORTILLS TACK SHOP silo all i the unit policemen tret nils who K Leslie is weed inspector Keith Hilton Hills Leslie s third Hit committer disc need inspection registered kite rso I Hit if Sis i town cut Liu ir wtttls ill Let Wis weed inspector Ihiswillbe Mr of on tin j cusstel possible for weed cutting including sending rs w bo should hour tor residents who hive wis termed Marie Cockhn Penny Morlty and Viola Shortill all readily await to serve you and offer you these and other opening sale bargains 1 he W eti inspector will fir Hit May need new policy conventions seminars NYLON HALTERS from HOOF PICKS PANDUR SADDLES CHILDREN RUBBER RIDING BOOTS ADULTS RUBBER RIDING BOOTS from 29 SUMMER SHEETS from SI 98 LADIES STRETCH BREECHES S31 50 ENGLISH FELT SADDLE PADS from S5 95 WESTERN BORG SADDLE PADS 9B their budget sums Hills li to form i new po on of lions tount si I to a week long nurse r ition of the offset printing PLUS MANY OTHER SPECIALS FREE DRAWS FREE COFFEE FREE DONeJTS tils personnel committee meeting Ill suggested new polity mi needed He it the Hilton ittKion voted to continue in conventions semimrs narrow The issue will he dealt with Hit noted that every department has included convention and funds in their budget requests to Hills council the suggestion of It King com nutlet the town s purchasing Hugh TEAR GAS SMOKE pours from a Georgetown silo after a member of the Special Weapons Unit of Regional Police last week sneaked up to lower window and tossed in a tear gas cannister Rifle toting officers huddled next to the cement silo waiting for the criminal and his bank manager hostage to emerge Both men inside were temporarily by the tear gas and the criminal was jumped and handcuffed wfien he left the silo It was a mock exercise Instructors welcome to clinic Persons who are at present instructors in recreation departments or programs or people interested in becoming in are Invited to attend the gymnastic clinic on April in Georgetown high school An Ontario Gymnastics Federation Instructor will conduct the clinic and will provide teaching techniques and conditioning exercises as they apply to gymnastics for children PAVING CO LTD ESTABLISHED SINCE 1957 T PAVING PARKING LOTS DRIVEWAYS PLAY AREAS TENNIS COURTS RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL Call For Free Estimates 8779366 BARRY CAMPBELLAREA REP BURLINGTON 634 1321 INDUSTRIAL ST BURLINGTON 3 BIG COLOUR HITS SATURDAY THE SUPREME SHOCKER OF Att TIME ANTICHRIST Mel Ferrer Arthur Kennedy Carls Gravlna Box Olfico Show starts at 7 15 A Sizn CHIC CHIC IN A BASKET 7S Schntidtrs Varieties COO MEATS Mipl 1 lb SIDE BACON WE PUT THE SQUEEZE OH HIGH PRICES PRICES EFFECTIVE MARCH 24 Canada No PE 10 Ib Bag POT Ont Fancy C A 5 Ib Bag APPLES Ontario No 1 CARROTS lb Bag ORANGES 2 Ib Jar PEANUT BUTTER Save 30c 59 Mel 30c 279 Monarch 13 Pkg DELUXE SNACK CAKE Rose 15 Jar SWEET MIXED PICKLES Libbyi 12 Pkg KERNEL CORN Christies loaf NEW WHOLE WHEAT BREAD Bright MINI APPLE JUICE on Tins TOMATOES Save 20c Libby 14 Tins FRUIT COCKTAIL 289 Robin Hood Bag ALL PURPOSE FLOUR Rod Roio of ECONOMY BLEND TEA BAGS