LPS In Focus: Emergency Response Unit

ERU: The mandate and the mission

Misconceptions abound when it comes to the mission and mandate of an emergency response unit. Images from popular culture depict teams of rapidly deploying, heavily armed officers storming into buildings with little or no forethought.

What those images don’t usually show is the planning that goes on behind the scenes before the team moves in to a situation.

“The mandate of our unit is essentially to resolve very dangerous situations with the minimum amount of force possible,” explains Staff Sergeant Dave Pratt, commander of the London Police Service’s Emergency Response Unit.

The team, which is accredited by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to engage in hostage rescue, tactical operations and containment, is a specialized service that supports front-line officers in high-risk incidents to seek a peaceful resolution.

The team is activated in a wide variety of incidents including, but not limited to, any hostage situation, armed and/or barricaded people, the arrest of an armed suspect or dangerous offender, the rescue of an injured citizen or police officer, or to search areas or buildings for a person who is suspected to be dangerous.

Unless there is an imminent danger to a citizen, police officer or suspect, the first thing the team does when called to an incident is assess the situation.

“When we are able to, we take the time to gather information about the incident from the officers involved, assess the scene or location, and plan before any action is taken,” S/Sgt. Pratt says. “At the same time, using a barricaded person as an example, negotiators will be attempting to communicate with the suspect to encourage them to come out peacefully.

“Tactical intervention by the ERU is always the last resort.”