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.
Chief of Police Evan Burton: “Training is crucial in the law enforcement profession. 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.”
(Kila Kean – Columbia Police Department)