Manitoba's only Regional Support Tactical Team, located in the Pembina Valley, continues to evolve. The team is made up of officers from the Morden, Winkler and Altona police services and rolls into action during high-risk situations such as hostage negotiation/rescue, armed and barricade scenarios, high risk traffic stops and, most frequently, Controlled Drug and Substances Act and firearm related search warrants.

The unit trains at least once a month and PembinaValleyOnline was invited to observe the latest session in Altona. Team Leader, Constable Jonathan Goertzen, says members prepare for every kind of scenario. 

The 9 member RSTT trains on a monthly basis

"... Our training days are pretty serious, we take this job seriously and we know that every time we go to the door, every time we deal with a high-risk situation, it could end not-so-well and so we train as if this could be the last call or the time."

Because the RSTT is a locally based unit, members have put a particular focus on training within local surroundings and becoming familiar with area landmarks in order to best respond in the case of an incident.

"We were lucky enough that the fire departments at each police service has a training house and they've been very open to let us use them," explains Goertzen, adding the unit uses a full-time shooting range quite often as well. He says the team also likes to use vacant buildings and homes and has conducted drills in factories, schools and movie theatres in an effort to prepare for the worst-case scenario in every type of setting.

"If we wouldn't branch out and actually train in those areas, it wouldn't do us any good."

Goertzen adds the RSTT also taps into RCMP resources and has trained with the Winnipeg Police Service tactical unit as well.

In addition, RSTT members use equipment that is above and beyond their general patrol gear, the cost of which was subsidized by a Property Forfeiture Grant from the province. The list includes heavy bullet proof vests, Kevlar helmets, Daniel Defense rifles and specialized lighting tools. Goertzen notes however, that while all of this equipment is nice to have and offers more protection to members, it is the training that really makes the difference.

And while there have been some learning curves along the way, Goertzen says members have learned to work together as a single unit and overcome the challenges of combining expertise from three different police agencies.

"Very quickly, I would say in the first month, we all realized that we are one unit (and) there is no more Altona, Winkler and Morden on this team, we all became like brothers."

Goertzen adds this training and dedication has also brought improvements to each individual police department, noting RSTT members share these new skills with their respective departments and pass them on to the general patrol officers.


Altona Police Chief Perry Batchelor hosted the media contingent at last week's training day. When the proposal for an RSTT was first made a handful of years ago, the Chief says he felt its formation was long overdue for the area.

"This is something that has been required in the area for many years, it's something that we'd been looking at for many years, and it really takes that desire and the drive of a fellow like Constable Goertzen who has really brought it through to fruition."

He adds having this team in place has meant increased officer and public safety in the communities of Altona, Winkler and Morden.

Batchelor agrees, the skills learned by members of the RSTT do make their way back to the local police department and just add another level of advanced learning to each agency.

"You can never be over-trained. It's one of those things where you hope you never have to use some of the training...but you have to be ready. At the end of the day, the buck really does stop with us."