The Chatham-Kent Police Service and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board are highlighting a partnership they say will strengthen emergency preparedness and enhance public safety across the region.
Through the collaboration, the school board has given the police service access to local school facilities, allowing officers to deliver Immediate Rapid Deployment training to all frontline members while also supporting training for officers from several neighbouring police services.
Immediate Rapid Deployment training prepares officers to respond to critical incidents in schools and the community. To meet provincial policing standards, officers must train in environments that closely replicate real-world settings, and police say the use of school facilities has allowed them to provide realistic, high-quality training while maintaining compliance with current provincial requirements.
Training will take place throughout the week of July 27 to July 31, 2026, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., at George P. Vanier Catholic School in Chatham. Members of the public may notice an increased police presence in the area during those times. Police say the training will occur only while the school is unoccupied, that there is no risk to the public, and that it is part of routinely scheduled, provincially mandated police training that is not in response to any specific threat or incident.
“This continued and valuable partnership between St. Clair Catholic and Chatham-Kent Police is important because it helps ensure the safety and well-being of both our schools and community. We are happy to assist our local law enforcement in any way possible because when we work together, everyone benefits,” said Lisa Demers, CEO and CEdO of St. Clair Catholic District School Board.
The police service extended its appreciation to the school board for its ongoing support, saying both organizations continue to demonstrate the value of strong community partnerships and a shared commitment to creating safer schools and stronger communities.
