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MARQUETTE -- It could happen at any time...a riot in the state of Michigan.  And if it did, Michigan State Police troopers would be prepared. 

That was the goal of the drills.

"If we have a deployment anywhere in the state where we have a civil unrest or a protest that calls for our presence, our troops are trained and able to readily respond," said Sergeant Don Horn of the Michigan State Police.

Once a year, Michigan State Police troopers participate in a civil disturbance training program. 

Almost 40 officers, one fourth of the troopers in the U.P., were called to attend.  Their main goal in the drill was to move crowds in an organized fashion.  They practiced arriving at a riot scene and mobilizing in a straight line quickly to push a crowd back.  Police cars followed the troopers from behind. 

"The squad cars follow us,” said Michigan State Police Trooper Jerry Mazurek.  “So that basically, that's to keep us safe and is part of the show of force as well."

Another scenario practiced, being sprayed with gas, all the while dealing with loud speakers blaring sounds of a rioting crowd.

The troopers' motto for handling a civil disturbance is simple.

"You want to keep your cool, maintain your integrity and your professionalism when we're out here and we're dealing with the public," Mazurek said.

And the training is the same across the state.

"They're able to take this training they're getting today and be able to go downstate; if they need to blend in with other troopers across the state," Horn said.

So, are the troopers now ready if a riot were to break out?

"Yes, I think we're very well equipped for any situation that would arise," said Michigan State Police Trooper Keith Carlson.

Which is precisely the goal. 

Wednesday marked the last day of the Small Squad Tactics Training program.  Michigan State Police troopers across the U.P. will have completed the training Wednesday evening.