The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 23, Number 7 | Page 7

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | September 2017
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miles from the city center. The focus of the presentations and discussions at GMP HQ was the work of the GMP and
North West Counter Terrorism Unit (NWCTU). Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, head of the NWCTU,
opened the discussion with an overview of the important work that the GMP, as well as their partners in other police
forces in the region, are doing to prevent, detect, and disrupt possible terrorist actions. He and his team explained
the Unit’s role in tackling the terrorist threat in the North West of England, which includes the Greater Manchester
area. The Unit supports GMP in protecting the public from terrorist threats and builds on the existing good work that
local police officers are doing within their communities. Officers and staff support GMP by providing specialist skills
and expertise when faced with a terrorist threat. They also work closely with neighborhood policing teams across
Greater Manchester on a day-to-day basis in order to help raise awareness about terrorism. Detective
Superintendent Will Chatterton and Detective Sergeant Graham Holland built on the introduction given by Chief
Superintendent Jackson, using the response to, and investigation of, the recent bombing outside of a concert in
downtown Manchester as a case study.
The final classroom day was reserved for a full-day exercise in the
Sedgley Park Hydra Suite. Hydra delivers immersive learning
exercises which simulate the reality of critical incident
management. Participants, immersed in a realistic environment,
are able to experience the decision-making process and the
complex issues facing the police leaders. It is designed to hone
the skills necessary to manage both internal and external critical
incidents in the workplace. Furthermore, it is designed to enhance
participants’ ability to develop strategies, deal with ambiguity,
and put into practice under realistic circumstances the UK’s
national decision making model. It works by presenting a scenario
to the participants via a mix of video clips, audio clips, and written
tasks. The system then tests the delegates’ ability to digest and
analyze data, make decisions, and take action.
Our attendees dug right into the experience and were actively
engaged in the scenario-based learning, which simulated a very
realistic scenario involving, among other things, community
demonstrations. The debriefing conversations were perhaps even
more animated than the work done in the separate breakout
(“syndicate”) rooms.
The week was rounded out with the presentation of certificates to
all of the attendees from GMP, The College of Policing, and the
NJSACOP, as well as our own certificates of appreciation to our
colleagues at both of our international partners.
An added feature of the experience for the attendees was an opportunity to participate in ‘ride alongs’ with GMP
officers going about their daily work. This provided our delegates with the chance to see many of the topics of the
week’s discussions put into practice on the street and in the community.
We also had the honor of conducting a brief ceremony at the Sedgley Park
Centre’s memorial to GMP officers that have died in the line of duty.
The attendees (or “delegates,” our British hosts would say) had high praise
for the program. For instance, Manchester Township Police Lieutenant
Vincent Manc o reached out to me at the NJSACOP State Office following his
return from the course to express his thoughts on the experience: “It was
a once in a lifetime experience for me that I will never forget. It was truly
enjoyable and I gained valuable experience which I will use for the
duration of my career. Thanks again.” Chief Rick Scarbrough of the
Clinton, TN, Police, summed it up by writing “Thank you for the
opportunity to attend. It was and is a bucket list kind of experience.”
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