WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Mobile field force ready for action
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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Today, the mobile field force was back in action for training. They worked the G-8 summit and the presidential inauguration.
Now with St. Patrick's day coming up fast with the usual large crowds, the force is getting ready to control those who might get a bit unruly and the training can be intense.
The smoke grenades are released and the riot gear is on. The mobile field force is ready for action.
"From a protesters eye point of view, we will throw a little smoke and show you what it's like," said Lt. Don Lee with Savannah-Chatham police.
Lt. Lee says his team needs to be ready for anything.
"We have to do almost continual training because of the nature of the job," he said.
Through formations which some may call intimidating, the mobile field force demonstrated for us how they move a crowd who doesn't want to move.
"We try to make sure we are thoroughly trained for St. Patrick's Day," said Lee. "We haven't had to use this formally, but the skills we learn we use every year. We use the skills but we haven't had to deploy the entire mobile field force since G-8."
The squad is made up of 52 officers and if they need to act when the St. Patrick's Day festivities begin, they will have one goal in mind.
"Basically, it's encouraging a crowd to leave where we don't want them to be to where we do want them to be," said Lee.
The exercises last all day long and training sessions take place several times a month.
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