SURREY — Attention shoppers, this is only a drill.
If you see a heavy police presence around Guildford Town Centre shopping mall on Sunday evening, after 6 p.m., when the mall is closed, don't freak out — it's only an emergency response training exercise.
Meanwhile, curiosity abounds.
"Details of the training exercise and request to interview those involved in the training will not be permitted," said Sgt. Alanna Dunlop, of the Surrey RCMP's media relations section.
But there will be lots of cops, police vehicles marked and unmarked, and officers in "tactical gear involved in realistic training exercises," she said.
"Thanks to our strong relationships with local community partners like Guildford Town Centre, we are fortunate to be able to use this location and provide our first responders with an up-to-date and realistic scenario based on training," Dunlop said. "Police emergency training exercises such as this are a part of a continuum of learning for the RCMP with the ultimate goal of enhancing public safety."
tom.zytaruk@thenownewspaper.com