Local law enforcement agencies recently participated in tactical team training. The training occurred during the week of June 16 to the 20. La Junta Police Department Chief Todd Quick said that Chief Charlie Crawford of the Fountain Police Department sent a tactical team to La Junta to train local agencies.

"They sent nine officers over a five day period and taught us how to put a team together. We trained so that we can put a team together and handle tactical situations," said Quick. "Chief Crawford donated his officer's time and their cars so they could get down here. The Southeastern Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) paid for the hotels and per diem for the Fountain officers."

Agencies participating in the training were police departments from La Junta, Lamar, Springfield, Rocky Ford and Fowler. Participating Sheriff's Offices were Otero and Crowley counties. Quick said that the Department of Defense, an Army Chemical Depot from Pueblo also attended.

Fowler Chief of Police Henry Borrego said that the agencies were trained in hostage rescue, vehicle assaults, active shooter and high-risk warrant searches. They also learned about the liability involved in deploying a tactical team's use of force.

"It was a terrific class and we learned a lot. In this day and age like with kids with guns in schools, tactical team training is valuable, even for small town police departments," Borrego said. "It is good to know when you need that kind of force and when not to use it."

Chief Quick said that the reason for the training was so that departments could handle tactical situations that were above their level of training. "If we had a situation outside our training level we had to call Fountain or Pueblo and then wait for an hour to an hour and a half," said Quick. "This makes us more prepared."

Quick said that officers from the La Junta Police Department and the Otero County Sheriff's Office will combine their skills into one team. "It's because of our small numbers," he said.

"The training went really well. The officers from Fountain said that they were impressed with the La Junta and the Otero County team," he said. "They said that it looked like we were working together."

In addition to Police Chief Henry Borrego, Fowler Officers James Gomez and Doug Perry also attended.