Members of the OPP TRU team spent the last few days training at the former Brookside Youth Centre in Cobourg.
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025 and Wednesday members of the Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) had the unique opportunity of utilizing their skills in a number of ways at the former youth centre.
Part of the training is getting the chance to use different types of tools for breaching doors.
Members of the unit said the property at the former Brookside Youth Centre is perfect for their training giving them various scenarios throughout the buildings that will soon be demolished.
The Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) was formed in 1975 in connection with the 1976 Summer Olympics, which had venues in Ontario.
There are three TRU teams located throughout Ontario who respond to high-risk calls in which violence or weapons are known or expected, including barricaded persons, K-9 back-up, prisoner escorts (where there is a high risk of escape or violence), high-risk warrant execution, witness protection, V.I.P. security and hostage rescue.
Officers within the OPP wishing to become a member of the Tactics and Rescue Unit must have a minimum of three years’ exemplary service. If chosen from their application, they then attend a two-day screening that includes a battery of written exams, psychological testing, an interview before a board, a timed physical fitness test and a firearms assessment course of fire.
The fitness test consists of the applicant donning a 50 lb (23 kg) vest and travelling an overall distance of 3.2 km (2 miles) over a course corresponding roughly to the perimeter of a basketball court. Six task stations are distributed over the course.
Within 32 minutes, the candidate must walk 5 laps at a brisk pace and may run 1 lap for a total of six laps before completing a task station.
These six laps, along with the six task stations, must be successfully completed for the candidate to continue. The candidate may be invited to attend a nine-day selection course, considered one of the most difficult non-military selection courses in the world.
Three buildings within the facility are not being used in the training including Strathmore house.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
