G20 Security Team Hosts Show & Tell

On Thursday police provided a glimpse of the tools and strategies they’ll have ready to employ to maintain order during the largest security event in Canadian history.

At the Toronto Police College on Birmingham Street, near Islington and Lake Shore, Toronto, Peel, OPP and RCMP officers showed off some of the specialized services they’ve been called on to provide during the G20 summit in Toronto June 26th and 27th.

The police units and members of the Canadian Forces make up the RCMP-led Integrated Security Unit (ISU). Toronto Police spokeswoman Const. Wendy Drummond wouldn’t divulge exactly how many officers are involved in the unit, citing security reasons.

“The units that you’ve seen here today are only a fraction,” she said.

Thursday’s show-and-tell was held in response to growing community concerns about methods authorities are prepared to use during the summit, Drummond explained – the main issue being the four long-range acoustic devices (L-RADs), also called sound cannons, that were purchased by Toronto Police last month.

Officers on the streets in downtown Toronto will be using three 100x model L-RADs (see specifications here) that are worn on the body. The fourth and larger unit, an L-RAD 300x (specifications here), would be used by the Marine Unit, if needed.

“The intention is to draw your attention and to make it quite clear that this sound is quite different from all the other ambient noise,” Insp.Gary Meissner said.

“It’s intended to communicate with a large crowd at considerable distance.”

The device has been somewhat controversial. Some raised fears it could be used as a weapon against protesters with its piercing sound blasts, but police insist it will only be used a tool to communicate with crowds.

Authorities in Pittsburgh were criticized for their use of the machines during the G20 summit there last September. The sound blasts were used to steer protesters away from the summit venue and it was the first time L-RADs had been used in public.

Video of Toronto Police L-RAD demonstration below

“We will not deploy this within 10 metres of a crowd. We have no need to because we can still be heard by a loud-hailer,” Meissner said, adding the piercing blips would only be emitted at a maximum of five seconds at a time.

Police also demonstrated other strategies you can expect to see in action on downtown streets, including a barricade formed by bicycle cops backed by officers in riot gear and a mounted unit.

The Toronto Police K9 unit also took part in the demonstration. The dogs will be used to sniff out explosive devices and other weapons.

The ISU showed off some of the other tools it has on hand should the situation call, including an OPP explosives disposal unit, Canadian Forces night vision gear, Toronto Fire and EMS vehicles, including a bus, and Toronto Marine Unit vessels.

Toronto EMS spokeswoman Kim McKinnon said the summit won’t disrupt regular service.

“There’ll be absolutely seamless service in the city of Toronto,” she said.

Marine units from Niagara, Halton and Peel Regions will be heading to the city to beef up the police presence on the water during the Toronto summit.

PC Gary Gibson of the Toronto Police Marine Unit said there’ll be heightened security on the Western Gap around the airport ferry, around the foot of Yonge Street and the island ferry docks.

“If there is a security threat of some kind [the area] could be shut down for a short time or maybe the duration of the event,” he explained.

Here’s a breakdown of the roles each member of the ISU is responsible for during the G20:

RCMP: General coordination of security; protecting heads of state and VIPs; accreditation; border security; intelligence
Toronto Police: maintaining public order; prisoner processing; criminal investigations; route security; traffic control
Peel Police: security at Pearson International Airport
OPP: Traffic safety (there will be restrictions on some highways); assisting the RCMP
Canadian Forces: Supporting police; land and air security; underwater surveillance and security.