A handful of officers from various law enforcement agencies recently wrapped up a weeklong tactical tracker training course. The training provided officers the fundamental tracking and safe team tactics related to fugitive manhunts. The techniques instructed can also be utilized for search and rescue missions.

Tactical tracking can be deployed in numerous police operations. For example, evidence collection, fugitive apprehension, escape prisoners, environmental protection, search and rescue, those are some of the events that tactical trackers can be deployed. Officers from the Guam Police Department, Park Police, Department of Corrections, and Dept. Of Agriculture conservation officers took part in the course.

What are the good characteristics not necessarily to a tracker but to the team as a whole? Noise discipline, communication, patience, patience because it could be frustrating at times, everyone in the team needs to know everybody's role. Being observant. Team work. Attention to detail. And we compliment, we praise, and we respect each other.

Spearheading training was Park Police superintendent Chief Joey Terlaje, who said, "I will introduce them to different terminology in tactical tracking such as spores, the quarry, left and right flank, rear security, and how important their roles are in a team formation."

Taking part in the Level 1 and Level 2 Tactical Tracking Course was GPD Officer Joshua Togawa, who jumped at the opportunity after hearing about it from senior officers. "How it was beneficial for them out in the field - however there hasn't been one that has been offered until recently. I asked to be part of it. So that's why I'm here," he said.

Assisting Terlaje was Park Police Sergeant Anthony Martinez, who said, "Throughout the week, they'll be able to identify tracks, learn formations, hand and arm signals, and basic map reading and land navigation. That is very crucial to tracking training."

In doing this training, Officer Togawa realized how unobservant he was and is grateul for what he took away. "Thankfully, Chief Terlaje was a very good teacher and we're slowly grasping the training and skills by the end of the week, we will be very proficient," he shared.

On Friday, all participating officers were presented Level 1 and Level 2 completion certificates. It's just one of trainings that will be offered by Terlaje down the pipeline. "This is all part of Governor Lou Leon Guerrero's initiative to bring more safety out in our island," he said.