FBI officers pleased with interest shown by AKS

FEDERAL BUREAU of Investigation (FBI) officer David Resch said yesterday the one week training programme for Anti-Kidnapping Squad officers will go a long way to assist them in dealing with kidnappings in a more aggressive manner.

Resch said training is proceeding smoothly and he is very im-pressed with the participation and interest displayed by the officers. Officers from other police divisions may soon be joining the AKS for the FBI training. Chuck Regini, of the Crisis Negotiation Unit at FBI’s Virginia headquarters, and Dennis Pierce, who is based at the FBI office in Venezuela, started the training programme on Monday at Police Headquarters. Regini, who is considered one of the best FBI officers in the world, provided key information on negotiating techniques and other anti-kidnapping measures, while Pierce dealt with techniques for handling kidnappings. The two left yesterday.

On Tuesday, FBI agent Alana Lavelle arrived in the country and joined Resch and Lloyd Sigler who provided other aspects of the training. They showed video footage of kidnappings and shared information on how certain kidnappings were handled in the United States and the techniques used for making breakthroughs. The FBI officers will leave this country on Saturday. The training was made possible through the mutual Legal Assistance Programme this country signed with the United States. Equipment for use of AKS officers will be purchased shortly and the AKS is expected to be beefed up with an additional 25 officers.