SRT Participates in Competitions
July 07, 2009

 

During the month of June, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department’s Strategic Response Team (SRT) won first place in two separate SWAT competitions.

On June 5-6 the team competed in the 16th Annual Southeastern SWAT Competition in Spartanburg, SC. The ACCPD team placed first in the overall standings out of the 13 teams (including the Raleigh, NC's SWAT team - a 48-person, full-time team; previous champions - Martin County Sheriff’s Office and Harrisonburg Police Department; and an Army team from Fort Jackson). The ACCPD SRT placed in the top three in all seven events, taking first place in both the Hostage Rescue and the Two-man Fitness Challenge. Consistent performance in every event was crucial to the team’s overall success.

On June 18 the ACCPD SRT also competed in the Georgia Police and Fire Games SWAT competition held at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office range. The ACCPD team placed first overall out of the four teams competing (other teams were Gwinnett PD, Roswell PD, and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office).

Being crowned the 2009 Southeastern SWAT Champion and the Gold Medal Winner at the Georgia Police and Fire games is a huge accomplishment. These competitions tested the team's knowledge, skills, and abilities to appropriately respond to dangerous critical incidents. The ACCPD team excelled in advanced skill sets that are measured in several operational activities such as: hostage rescue, active shooter response, building clearing, downed officer/citizen rescue, operational planning, firearms proficiency, and extreme fitness challenges. These competitions are used to certify annually the wide-ranging skill sets a SRT team must maintain to properly respond in crisis and protect the citizenry of ACC.

2009 Southeast SWAT Champions

Shown: (from left) - Sgt. Ryan McGee, SPO Dan Whitney, SPO Matt Ring, SPO Jon McIlvaine, SPO Lou Pasqualetti, Sgt. Jim Peden, Sgt. Glenn Cowan, SPO Scott Prah, and SPO Ian Bowen.

2009 Georgia Police and Fire Games Champions

Shown: (from left) – SPO Matt Cross, SPO Jon McIlvaine, SPO Lou Pasqualetti, SPO Dan Whitney, SPO Ian Bowen, and SPO Matt Ring.

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