Robbery simulation drill highlights minor lapses

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) held a robbery simulation exercise in a pawnshop located inside a mall as part of efforts to enhance their skills in responding to robbery incidents.

Several lapses were noted during the exercise, but Supt. Elmer Lim, deputy city director for operations of LCPO, said these are minor and can be corrected.

He said that the LCPO decided to hold the exercise after noting that theft and robbery are the most common among crimes committee in the city.

Lim admitted that there were minor lapses that they need to correct, especially with regard to the actions of the responding team.

Yesterday, eight police officers, who acted as robbers, arrived at the Tambunting Pawnshop inside Gaisano Island Mall Mactan.

Chief Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of the City Intelligence Branch, said five of the robbers were able to run away, two held a pawnshop staff as their hostage while one served as the driver of their getaway vehicle.

The Lapu-Lapu Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) and the police station concerned responded to the incident.

Delayed response

Reporters covering the event noticed the delayed response of the Swat and the lack of security for the negotiator when he talked to the robbers.

Lim said there were around 10 lapses that he noticed during the exercise, including the safety of the media covering the event.

He, however, said that these are just minor lapses that can be easily corrected.

“Anyway, there is room for improvement. There’s no problem with correcting the lapses. Each police station has a respective crisis management plan. Through this activity we can check if the said plan is implemented when responding to such a crisis,” the police official said.

Lim added that they plan to conduct a simulation exercise with different scenarios and venue every quarter. /