Article Contributed on: 7/24/2008 9:57:06 AM
Westminster Fire and Police personnel attended a "Managing Civil Actions and Threat Incidents - Protestor Devices" class put on by the Department of Homeland Security. The 3-day course held July 17 - 19 introduced the public safety professionals to various devices and equipment used by civil protestors; the course was a good opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Instructors demonstrated protestor techniques -- from simple handcuffing/chaining oneself to a fence/structure to specialized devices made from PVC pipe, bolts, and concrete designed to make it very difficult to remove a person or human chain from a scene. The course gave firefighters and police hands-on training on how to handle the devices using specialized tools like extrication saws and angle grinders to remove people from the scene without causing injury. The legal aspect of protestor devices was also discussed because it's important to understand the civil rights of the protestors.