Vancouver police, first responders launch ‘rescue task force’ to respond to violent threats

One week after a terrorist attack in New Zealand took 50 lives, first responders in Vancouver are launching their own new approach to potential “active deadly threats” in the city.

Vancouver police have teamed up with firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers to develop a new joint “rescue task force.”

“The purpose of the rescue task force is to deploy a coordinated, unified response between emergency service providers if and when an active deadly threat situation unfolds,” said Vancouver police Supt. Steve Eely.

“The term active deadly threat involves an assailant who is actively trying to kill innocent people with a weapon” including guns, knives or even vehicles.

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In such a threat situation, Vancouver police would be responsible for locating an assailant and making an area safe, and would then work with firefighters to stabilize and extract wounded people to a safe area. Paramedics with BC Emergency Health Services could then treat victims and transport them to hospital.

“During an active deadly threat event, the VPD’s top priority will always be stopping the threat,” said Eely.

“But if we coordinate better with our emergency service partners, there’s an opportunity to treat and transport the wounded in a more timely manner, and that will ultimately save lives.”

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Capt. Jonathan Gormick said there is a documented relationship between rapid access to patients and victims’ chances of survival during active threats.

He said in that context, there’s a need for cities to prepare for high-consequence, low-probability events — just as in the case of a natural disaster.

“We need to train, practise and prepare, but hope never to deploy,” he said.

Task force training began last fall and remains ongoing, according to Vancouver police. More than 700 police officers and 400 firefighters have been trained so far.