Thirteen Police Officers will be part of a two-week session to strengthen their capabilities in assessing and utilising appropriate tactical options in dealing with offenders.

The training will help them qualify to become Trainers under the newly-established Officer Safety Pacific (OSP) programme.

Cook Islands Police spokesman, Trevor Pitt says that The Train the Trainers course starts today in conjunction with the launch of a refurbished and equipped training facility set up in partnership and support from the New Zealand Police at 9am.

Pitt said two New Zealand Police trainers will be delivering the course, which will strengthen the Cook Islands Police capabilities in assessing and utilising appropriate tactical options in dealing with offenders.

The fundamental theme of the training centres on the principle that “community safety starts with Officer Safety”.

He said the aim of the police leadership is to ensure that Officers can effectively undertake their duties in a manner that enhances the safety of staff, the public, and offenders.

Pitt said a team under the International Services Group of NZ Police has been working closely with Cook Islands Police over recent months, strengthening the partnership on OSP and setting up the training room facility for future programmes.

Meanwhile the new facility is an opportunity to showcase how the Cook Islands Police is working on its strategic outlook by reinvigorating its core values of “Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Commitment, and Teamwork”. CI POLICE MEDIA.