Building Searches and Tactical Movements Will Not Involve Use of Weapons
The Shawano area police Special County Special Response Team (SRT) and K9 units from throughout the state will gather at the vacant Shawano Medical Center this week for tactical training exercises. The 14-member SRT will conduct exercises on Wed., Jan. 13, from 4 to 10 p.m., and the K9 units will be on site Mon., Jan. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The former hospital, at 309 N. Bartlett Street, was shuttered in September 2015 upon completion of the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano across town.
Neither training exercise will involve the use of real or simulated weapons. Officer Shane Stange of the Shawano Police Department said the complex maze of additions and departments on the old hospital campus make it an ideal training venue. “We will be focusing on team movement, room clearing, and building searches. Our goal is to move as fast as possible in a tactical fashion that prioritizes officer safety. The SRT trains at least six hours per month. This is a great space to train for dynamic scenarios.”
Deputy Sheriff Craig Rekoske, a Shawano K9 officer, said the K9 exercises will afford the specially trained dogs a new environment for training. “We will be practicing drug hides and apprehension scenarios. The old hospital is so large and varied; it’s like having four or five different buildings to train in,” he said. Rekoske has invited up to 20 K9 teams from throughout the state to join the three Shawano area teams on Jan. 18. “This time of year is usually a little sluggish for K9 training. I opened it up to more teams because it’s such a great opportunity, and it gives us a chance to network and learn from each other,” he said.
John Gijsen, director of facilities for ThedaCare, said affording local law enforcement access to the old SMC property highlights ThedaCare’s support for critical community services. “In the meantime, we continue to discuss the future sale or redevelopment of the riverside property. The training exercises will not damage the buildings or grounds.” Neighbors will be notified of the exercises in advance.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,800 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 35 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. Construction of ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton is underway. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
