Graduation ceremony held for PSD’s emergency medical response trainers

AMMAN — A demonstration of advanced emergency medical response skills for police officers involved in a critical incident and the graduation of 13 officers trained to instruct colleagues in the Public Security Directorate (PSD) were recently held. 

The specialised training was delivered by the Policing Support Team (PST) on behalf of the Government of Canada through funding from the Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Programme, according to a statement from the Canadian embassy.

Speaking during the event, Canada’s Ambassador to Jordan Donica Pottie said: “As graduates of this training programme, you have demonstrated not only your skills to serve in a time of crisis, but also your ability to teach others how to remain calm while delivering lifesaving medical aid.”

“I am confident by the display I have seen today that the experience you have gained as trainers, will help you and your colleagues weather the most difficult of storms.”

The event is part of a broader initiative to train women police officers for operational security roles. 

Since 2018, Canada has supported critical incident response training in the form of women firearms and search techniques courses, as well as emergency medical training, the statement said.

This project responds to Jordan and Canada’s combined vision to support the global efforts to fight terrorism by empowering women police officers to respond to violent incidents, read the statement. 

The initiative addresses both the Jordanian National Action Plan (JONAP) for advancing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325); as well as Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) to help strengthen global peace and security through increased participation of women in peacebuilding and women’s representation in the security sector.

The PSD’s commitment to JONAP and UNSCR 1325 are “a model for other law enforcement agencies in the region”, read the statement.

The PSD was also awarded the Elsie Initiative Fund in the form of $1 million in support for a female training centre. 

The new centre will streamline women’s career paths to increase uniformed women’s participation in UN peace operations, including in leadership roles.

Once established, the facility will be well positioned to become a regional training centre of excellence to prepare police women for deployment to UN peace operations, according to the statement.