The fears, fitness and aptitude of 25 police officers was put to the test recently with an intense three-day course.
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Aspiring police rescue operators from across the NSW Police western region undertook the rescue and bomb disposal unit selection course at Eumungerie.
Twelve officers made it through the training, which tested the candidates' skills around confined spaces, depths, heights and a generally ideal overlay of infrastructure.
Chief Inspector Brenton Charlton said trainers exposed participants to all forms of rescue across the three days, ranging from bomb disposal work, land search and rescue, along with operational support for NSW Police.
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"It's an extremely intense three days," Chief Inspector Charlton said.
"It's about challenging the candidates around their phobias - their fears of heights depths and confined spaces - combined with high levels of fitness and mechanical aptitude and skill.
"Initially we started with 25 operators and due to the selection process of swimming, fitness and aptitude testing, we're now down to a core of 12.
"We've exhausted them over the three days, it's been extremely difficult and hard for them, but all 12 operators will make great operators into the future."
Chief Inspector Charlton emphasised the importance of increasing police rescue resources and capability in the state's regional and remote areas.
"Having the resources here is strategically important to our operation, it gives us a quick response time for NSW PF operations but also for the community of NSW," he said.
"What this selection does for us is it shows us people who have the natural attributes and characteristics we need to be able to give them a skill and train them to become a basic police rescue operator."
Acting Western Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, said the course was a welcomed asset to the region.
"It really shows the level of commitment the NSW Police Force Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit has towards regional NSW and I thank Chief Inspector Charlton and his team for training our local officers," he said.
"The training is world-class and I am confident these officers will significantly enhance our capability by responding swiftly and safely to calls for assistance right across the region."
The successful participants will now proceed onto the next phase of selection in order to become a member of the unit.
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