Chatham-Kent Police Service and St. Clair Catholic District School Board Celebrate Partnership Supporting Public Safety Training

The Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board
(SCCDSB) are proud to recognize a successful partnership that will strengthen emergency
preparedness and enhance public safety across the region.

Through this collaboration, the St. Clair Catholic District School Board has provided access to
local school facilities, enabling the Chatham-Kent Police Service to deliver Immediate Rapid
Deployment (IRD) training to all frontline officers while also supporting training for officers
from several neighbouring police services.

Immediate Rapid Deployment (IRD) training prepares officers to respond effectively to critical
incidents in schools and the community. To meet provincial policing standards, officers must
train in environments that closely replicate real-world settings. The use of school facilities has
allowed the Chatham-Kent Police Service to provide realistic, high-quality training while
maintaining compliance with current provincial training requirements.

Training will take place throughout the week of July 27 to July 31, 2026, between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m., at George P. Vanier Catholic School in Chatham. Members of the public may
notice an increased police presence in the area during these times. The training will occur only
while the school is unoccupied and there is no risk to the public. This training is part of
routinely scheduled, provincially mandated police training and is not in response to any
specific threat or incident.

“This continued and valuable partnership between St. Clair Catholic and Chatham-Kent Police
is important because it helps ensure the safety and well-being of both our schools and
community. We are happy to assist our local law enforcement in any way possible because
when we work together, everyone benefits,” said Lisa Demers, CEO and CEdO of St. Clair
Catholic District School Board.

The Chatham-Kent Police Service extends its sincere appreciation to the St. Clair Catholic
District School Board for its ongoing support and commitment to community safety. By
working together, both organizations continue to demonstrate the value of strong community
partnerships and a shared commitment to creating safer schools and stronger communities.