Valley Mounties saddle up

Steve MacNaull 2010-01-14 Kelowna Daily Courier:
Twenty-seven Kelowna RCMP officers will be among the 14,800 strong security detail at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. “They‘ll be serving on quick-response teams and emergency-response teams,” Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon said at a luncheon on Wednesday outlining the Olympic integrated security unit. “Four will even be in full red serge uniform to help out at opening ceremonies, medal ceremonies and other ceremonies.” Kelowna officers had to apply for the Olympic gig and were chosen based on skill and experience. Kelowna‘s law enforcement won‘t be left thin because of the exodus of officers to the Games. “The 27 going to the Olympics are from a total 214 in the Central Okanagan,” McKinnon said. “It will be all hands on deck in Kelowna during the Olympics because we‘ve made the provisions that there are no holidays, no training and no court to take officers away from their jobs in Kelowna.”
McKinnon himself is headed to Whistler this weekend where he takes up command of a 65-member quick-response team. “We‘ll be in charge of venues in Whistler,” he said. “We‘ll be able to take care of any of the more minor incidents, such as a drunk at venue, a blockade or some protesters.” The armed emergency response teams are poised for major incidents such as a hostage taking, violence or serious security breach.”

VANOC (the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) will reimburse the City of Kelowna for local officers pay. McKinnon provided the details at a Kelowna Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Manteo Resort where the deputy chief operating officer for the Olympic integrated security unit was the main speaker. “The opening ceremonies of the Games may be Feb. 12,” Michael Sekela said, “but for us, the planning started years ago.” Sekela said the security threat at the Vancouver Olympics has been classified as low, but the plan that‘s been put in place is for medium threat as a preventative measure. “There will be a lot of security personnel everywhere,” he said. “But the Olympics are about sport, not security, so we will minimize the space we need and make sure the public has as much access as possible.”
The 14,800-person strong security force at the Olympics includes 6,000 police officers from across the country, 4,800 private security officers and 4,000 from the Canadian Forces. Security and law enforcement will be provided on land at Olympic venues, events, ceremonies and the athletes villages. But there will also be monitoring from the air and sea, including underwater diver cops. In all, 1.7 million visitors are expected in Vancouver and Whistler for the Games, Feb. 12 to 28.

The cost of security for the Winter Games was initially estimated to be $175 million; however, Sekela avoided the question of how much it‘s now expected to cost. “We‘re being fiscally responsible and working within Olympic security budget,” he said.