A Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit exercise yesterday had more than a few hitches.

According to the mock scenario, a crime at the athletes' village on False Creek would force the commander to call for backup. A Canadian Forces Griffon helicopter would drop off an RCMP Emergency Response Team and they would enter the building.

Instead, the chopper circled for more than 20 minutes looking for a suitable place to land. On the first attempt to touch down, the helicopter pulled up at the last minute because of apparent space constraints.

Just as RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Cote tried to explain the exercise would be cancelled because of no safe landing spot, the pilot made a second pass and landed the military craft 100 metres from the original spot, allowing four fully armed officers to disembark and make their way to the building.

"In real life things happen rapidly, but during an exercise we can assess and reassess ... and make sure we can do things safely," Cote said at the site.

Security forces will continue mock scenarios at Olympic sites during the week-long Pegasus Guardian 3 and Spartan Rings operations.

Also this week, The Tyee and Vancouver 24 hours are co-publishing a series of articles about RCMP Asst. Comm. Gary Russell "Bud" Mercer, who heads the 6,000-person Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Click here to read the first article, and here for today's installment.

Dharm Makwana reports for 24 hours.