by Philip Devine
The Canadian Tactical Officers Association (CTOA) is a non-profit, fraternal organization directed by the needs of the membership. Our goal is to develop a professional network – committed to promoting and coordinating the sharing of information and best practice guidelines amongst law enforcement, corrections, military and security providers – to meet those needs.
We also provide access to subject matter experts on the CTOA advisory board. They can provide consultation, expert testimony or facilitate specific and effective practical training, based upon the most recent, realistic and relevant skills in crisis and risk management.
The CTOA was developed because of the need for task specific training and, equally important, the timely access to information and subject matter experts in the field. We’ve all found ourselves tasked with providing answers or operational solutions for a situation that we have not experienced.
This is often frustrated by the lack of knowledge and ability, or simply not knowing where to turn for assistance. In most cases a solution is found, but not without hours or days of searching to find someone who’s “been there and done that” or attending expensive training that sort of address your needs. This can result in wasted resources (time and money), a duplication of efforts or, worst case scenario, pressing on blindly, which may result in corporate liability or criminal prosecution.
In answer to the current trends of fiscal constraints, limited resources and growing public scrutiny, the response has been extremely positive and the timing favorable to launching CTOA. We are excited about the opportunity of being able to provide the mechanism for those in need to plug into a “live network,” a central clearing house of sorts, that will give its membership access to the combined knowledge and expertise of those that have gone before us.
“There’s no one of us smarter than all of us.”
BIO
Philip Devine (Det #2949 ret’d) served 32 years with the Toronto Police Service, including 25 years in Special Operations Command working at the ETF and Intelligence Division – Security Operations. Devine currently serves on the CTOA board of directors.
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