Area Police Conduct Hostage Situation Tactical Training In Westport

WESTPORT, CT — A vacant house on Sniffen Road in Westport Wednesday morning was the scene of a mock hostage situation, as members of the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team conducted a training exercise.

Fifteen officers from the 23-member team participated in the training, in which a large tactical vehicle drove up to the house at 25 Sniffen Road, and several officers in helmets and camouflage clothing jumped out and entered the home.

Before entering the house, which is set to be demolished in the near future, the team set off a loud "breaching charge" — or controlled explosion — that could be heard throughout the neighborhood.

While firearms were displayed by the officers, no shots were fired.

"These types of training exercises are location-dependent," Wilton Police Capt. Gregg Phillipson told Patch. "So, while we train twice a month, these types of training exercises at a house like this happen about six times a year."

Residents in the Sniffen Road neighborhood received a letter from the captain over the weekend explaining the training.

"Do not be alarmed as this training is being conducted in a controlled environment and poses no danger to the public," Phillipson wrote. "The Westport Police Department Dispatch Center is aware of the training being conducted.

"This training is vital to these police officers being able to perform when needed in a real-life incident, and we thank you for your cooperation and understanding," Phillipson added.

Phillipson has been commander of the regional unit for the past six years, and has been part of the team for 18 years. The unit has members from the police departments of Westport, Wilton, Trumbull, Monroe, Darien and Easton.

"This was particularly timely for us, in light of the recent carjacking in Westport," Phillipson said.

Last month, assailants attacked and injured a Westport homeowner in his garage and stole his Aston Martin convertible. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, and the car was recovered at a suspected "chop shop" in Berlin.

The unit has relationships with several builders in Fairfield County who let them know when they have a house scheduled for demolition that the squad can use for training. The team has conducted similar exercises in Westport in the past, including one on South Compo Road in 2012.

Though Tuesday's training did not involve such activity, some exercises include the breaking of windows and knocking down of doors.

Patch was not allowed inside the house during the training, because the unit does not want to reveal its specific tactics, but after entry, members of the team will discuss the mock operation. Officers were inside the home pretending to be hostages and hostage-takers.

"We'll talk about what went well, and what didn't," Phillipson told Patch, adding that the unit will spend several hours at the house on Tuesday going over various scenarios.