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The Tactics and Rescue Unit of the Ontario Provincial Police was formed in 1975 as a counter terrorist unit for the 1976 Summer Olympics which had venues in Ontario. This unit was originally trained by the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3RCR) at Canadian Forces Base, Petawawa, Ontario in November, 1975. Subsequent training and guidance included the British SAS and the FBI Hostage Rescue Unit. ~~~~
Currently, officers within the OPP wishing to become a member of this unit must have served a minimum of three years with exemplorary service. Then, they may apply and if chosen attend a two-day pre-selection screening to undergo a battery of written exams, psychological testing, attend an interview before a board, pass a timed physical fitness test and pass a firearms assessment course of fire.
The fitness test consists of the applicant donning a 50 lb (23 kg) vest and travelling an overall distance of 3.2 km (2 miles). The test must be completed in a time of less than 32 minutes and has six task stations spread out over the course which is basically the perimeter of a basketball court. The candidate must walk 5 laps at a brisk pace and may run 1 lap for a total of six before doing a task station. These six laps along with the six task stations must be successfully completed for the candidate to continue on.
Should the candidate be successful they then may be invited to attend a nine-day selection course, which is considered one of the most difficult non-military selection courses in the world.
It is only after successfully completing all of the above requirements that the officer then begins their tactical training which is broken down into three levels but totals 14 weeks of training. During this time they will learn camouflage and concealment, land navigation, K-9 back-up training, Witness and VIP protection, rappel, basic sniper, stealth clearing, hostage rescue. If successful they then may be placed on to one of the "teams" where their physical and tactical training will continue, along with opportunities for more specialized training such as Sniper, Explosive Disposal and Rappel Master to name a few.
The teams deal with high risk calls in which violence or weapons are known or expected, including but not limited to barricaded persons, K-9 back-up, prisoner escorts (where there is a high risk of escape or violence), high risk warrant execution, witness protection, V.I.P. security and hostage rescue.
Today the OPP TRU team has evolved into one of the top 5 hostage rescue teams in North America.
Book: "TRU (Tactics and Rescue Unit): The Last Resort in Policing," by Andrew F. Maksymchuk (2011) General Store Publishing House, Renfrew, Ontario. ISBN 978-1-926962-13-9. ~~~~