Columbia Police Officers Dustin Bunch and Travis Bell recently completed advanced tactical training with Norse Tactical in New Albany, Indiana. Officers Bunch and Bell attended the training from March 2 through March 6, 2026.
Norse Tactical is a private training company that provides advanced tactical instruction for law enforcement and military personnel. The program focuses on close-quarter tactics, firearms proficiency, and breaching techniques through realistic, scenario-based training led by experienced instructors with law enforcement and military backgrounds.
Officers Bunch and Bell successfully completed the SWAT 1 Course, an intensive 40-hour training program designed for both new and experienced officers. The course includes instruction in firearms operations, breaching techniques, and close-quarter tactics. The SWAT 1 course is accredited by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC).
This marks the second consecutive year Columbia Police Department personnel have attended the Norse Tactical SWAT 1 training. In 2025, Assistant Police Chief Drew Conn and Sergeant Trevor Foster also completed the course.
"Training is crucial in the law enforcement profession," said Columbia Chief of Police Evan Burton. "I want the Columbia Police Department personnel to be ready for any situation at any given moment. This type of training is valuable and potentially life-saving, and we will continue striving to go above and beyond in preparing our officers."
