A significant police presence occupied a local high school and its surrounding neighborhood in Prince George, B.C., this week for an emergency response training exercise conducted by the RCMP. Uniformed and undercover officers, along with police vehicles, gathered at Duchess Park Secondary School on Thursday for the scenario, which involved actors simulating an active threat situation to enhance realism and intensity for participating officers.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, the media relations officer for Prince George RCMP, mentioned that residents in the area could expect to hear loud noises and commotion as the training exercise unfolded dynamically. The exercise was part of routine RCMP training and not a direct response to the mass shooting incident in Tumbler Ridge earlier in February 2026.
The choice of the school for the training was ideal as it was vacant of students during the summer, providing a perfect setting for running various scenarios. Insp. Chris Riddle, the Prince George RCMP operations officer, highlighted the importance of the exercise in allowing officers to experience real-life scenarios, make quick decisions under stress, and handle situations where harm is inflicted on others effectively.
Cooper shared her past experience of participating as an actor in a similar training exercise with the Abbotsford Police Department before becoming a police officer, emphasizing the value of gaining insight into the challenges faced by law enforcement daily. Riddle expressed intentions to organize more training events for Prince George officers in the future to enhance their skills continuously and provide rewarding experiences.