Protecting the flame across Canada

Saanich Police Const. Paul Lamoureux knew that running along a cordoned off highway in 23 C weather wasn’t indicative of how he’s expecting his winter to pan out.

Lamoureux is part of the Olympic Torch Relay team, which held a training run through the Fraser Valley in September to help train the officers assigned to escort the symbolic flame as it makes its way across Canada.

“It was so hot. We were all covered in sweat,” said Lamoureux, who will take his first shift protecting torch bearers when the flame arrives in Victoria on Friday.

The first leg of the run ends Tuesday (Nov. 3) in Campbell River. Lamoureux will have two more shifts escorting runners, including the final leg from Edmonton to Vancouver in the dead of winter.

“It’s going to be cold as hell (in January and February) ... We’re all prepared for it.”

Lamoureuxis one of the officers on the Torch Relay team whose job is to keep 12,000 torchbearers safe and the Olympic flame lit. The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit won’t say how many members are on each team (there are five geographically-organized security teams).

“We’ve seen what happened in Beijing and in San Francisco. We know that protesters are part of the scenario, we know it’s going to happen,” he said. “That’s why police have established game plans. That’s what we’re there for.”

In mid-November Lamoureux’s second shift will see him fly to St. John’s, Nfld. to accompany the torch through the Atlantic provinces.

“I’m going to get to see a lot of the country that I’ve never seen before. That’s a total bonus,” he said.

After 11 days on the East Coast, the 14-year police veteran will be back home from December through the first part of January.

“On Jan. 15, 2010, I fly back to Edmonton and escort (the flame) all the way back to Vancouver (on Feb. 12),” Lamoureux said. “Alberta’s going to be freezing cold in January ... but it’ll be great.”

The security officers will work in shifts on each leg of the relay, either running, cycling or driving, to create a convey — a safety buffer — around the torchbearers.

The convoy will include a motor-home filled with torchbearers, VISU officers and VANOC staff, as well as jurisdictional officers who, if the situation demands it, will deal with activists or any other problems that arise during the relay.

Officers will work a rolling three-part system that includes foot security around the flame and torchbearer. There will be officers 300 and 600 metres ahead preparing the next runners for their moment.

“We have positional tactics, formations and plans (in place) if the runner wants to go talk to the crowd and that sort of thing,” Lamoureux said. All officers involved in the relay took a VIP protection course to upgrade their practical skills to deal with anything sudden.

Lamoureux isn’t looking at his role as a job. Rather it’s an invaluable experience that few get to take part in.

“Knowing that I’ll never have this opportunity again, I’m going to make the most of it,” he said. “This is (going to be) an amazing adventure. I’ll enjoy the towns, enjoy meeting people, enjoy the celebrations. And that’s what I’m going to be telling the torchbearers: ‘Enjoy it.’”

Lamoureux isn’t sure how far his final leg will take him, or if he’ll be accompanying the flame as it makes its way into B.C. Place Stadium on Feb. 12 during the Opening Ceremony.

“We haven’t been told that yet. If I get to, that’s going to be exciting. That’d be the icing on the cake.”

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