US Border Patrol, regional agencies train together

Sav Kelly / Grand Forks Herald By Staff reports Today at 1:12 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? GRAND FORKS — The United States Border Control recently hosted a multiagency tracking class that focused on special regionalized training for duties along the U.S.-Canada border. “The specialized training is vital along the northern border, where agents and local law enforcement partners must be prepared to track during life-threatening conditions brought on by the region's harsh winter climate,” said a release sent to the media. “Participants honed their tracking skills and became better prepared to conduct search operations for lost individuals. These skillsets go beyond apprehending border crossers and underscore the critical, lifesaving commitment to community safety as winter approaches.” ADVERTISEMENT Participating agencies included Pembina County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Forks Police Department, Kittson County Sheriff’s Office, Canadian law enforcement partners and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The release noted that the course blended three days of intensive classroom instruction, practical exercises and scenario-based training. Participants covered the fundamentals of tracking people and included establishing sign descriptions, reading footprints and grass trails, and understanding the various components required to track individuals across diverse terrain. "Opportunities like this provide agents and officers the ability to learn new principles and build upon practical experience,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent Michael W. Hanson said. “Beyond apprehending illegal aliens and criminals, these vital skills increase law enforcement’s ability to locate missing hunters, lost hikers, endangered children, etc. With winter right around the corner, this is more significant than ever.” The last day of the training included scenarios at the Pembina Gorge. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags U.S.-CANADA BORDER By Staff reports Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next North Dakota North Dakota receives $206M in rural health funds 44m ago · By Staff reports North Dakota Honoring the North Dakota native who helped raise first flag at Iwo Jima 6h ago · By Pamela Knudson Subscribers Only Lifestyle Briggs: The last WW I veteran 7h ago · By Tracy Briggs ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads North Dakota Honoring the North Dakota native who helped raise first flag at Iwo Jima 6h ago · By Pamela Knudson Subscribers Only Prep Family tradition coming to a close for Bohl family 7h ago · By Katie Ringer Prep West Region volleyball tournament coming to Jamestown 7h ago · By Katie Ringer North Dakota Federal agent shoots man on North Dakota tribal land, FBI says 1d ago · By Staff reports