It’s 7 a.m. on a Sunday, and do you know where your Kern County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team members are?
More specifically, do I know where my husband, Deputy Garcia, is.
Actually, I do.
He and his fellow SWAT comrades — Sgt. Drake Massey; senior deputies Dustin Downey and Larry McCurtain; and deputies Jay Heisey and Pat McIrvin — have been spending their Sunday mornings, as well as many other morning and evenings, preparing for the Ventura Police Department’s 14th annual SWAT Competition to be held Monday.
They’ll be testing their skills against fellow SWAT competitors from through Southern California.
Among the participating SWAT teams: Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county sheriff’s departments; as well as Oxnard, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Santa Monica, and Pasadena police departments.
Among the participating SWAT teams: Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county sheriff’s departments; as well as Oxnard, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Santa Monica, and Pasadena police departments.
So what’s the big deal behind this event? I decided to ask Massey, SWAT team leader for the county sheriff’s department, to fill us in:
Q: Tell us about this event.
A: This competition is an “invitation-only” situation, and it is a very popular event among SWAT teams in California. Interested SWAT teams submit an application, and Ventura PD will randomly select which teams can participate. A small amount of teams are asked back by the host agency. This was the case with our department.
Part of the “ask back” process is based on good sportsmanship in previous competitions.
A: This competition is an “invitation-only” situation, and it is a very popular event among SWAT teams in California. Interested SWAT teams submit an application, and Ventura PD will randomly select which teams can participate. A small amount of teams are asked back by the host agency. This was the case with our department.
Part of the “ask back” process is based on good sportsmanship in previous competitions.
Q: So it must be nice to return and show what your team can do.
A: SWAT competitions are a good thing to enter because, as with any competition, there is a level of stress, tactical planning, physical and emotional challenges.
All of these categories translate to what we have to deal with during an actual SWAT operation. Essentially, competitions are another way to practice for real life SWAT events.
In addition, there is a level of bragging rights that go along with winning.
A: SWAT competitions are a good thing to enter because, as with any competition, there is a level of stress, tactical planning, physical and emotional challenges.
All of these categories translate to what we have to deal with during an actual SWAT operation. Essentially, competitions are another way to practice for real life SWAT events.
In addition, there is a level of bragging rights that go along with winning.
Q: Winning is always great. Have you guys placed before?
A: I believe our best finish was second place in a 20-team event the Bakersfield Police Department hosted about five years ago. We are hoping for gold in this one.
Q: Gold would be nice.
A: I think we are very prepared, as most of the teams will be. I have found that the team that makes the fewest mistakes is usually the winner. Unfortunately, these events are designed for you make a lot of mistakes. I know our guys will give 100 percent effort and be totally professional. That’s all that really counts.
A: I think we are very prepared, as most of the teams will be. I have found that the team that makes the fewest mistakes is usually the winner. Unfortunately, these events are designed for you make a lot of mistakes. I know our guys will give 100 percent effort and be totally professional. That’s all that really counts.
Q: What events are lined up for Kern’s SWAT team?
A: Team/Sniper Shoot; Precision Handgun; Entry Weapon Shoot; Team Physical Fitness Course; Team Obstacle Course; and Team-building Exercise.
A: Team/Sniper Shoot; Precision Handgun; Entry Weapon Shoot; Team Physical Fitness Course; Team Obstacle Course; and Team-building Exercise.
Q: Sounds like a lot of tough categories. What are some scenarios?
A: It’s not standing before a target and shooting.
Every event will require of some type of physical exertion, such as running, push ups, pull ups, or going over some walls, before you can shoot.
And when you take on physical exertions, and you are rushing to beat the clock, there’s a good chance that your blood pressure will rise, your heart rate will increase, and your adrenaline will be going. You can make a mistake if you are rushing and not focused.
For instance, one scenario may require you to shoot a (fake) hostage who has his arms around a (fake) hostage, and you’re given a small portion of the suspect’s area to shoot. If you miss, you can hit the hostage.
Another example they can put you through is, first, the physical exertion portion, followed by “shoot-and-don’t-shoot” targets. You have to think critical or you risk shooting a target that you weren’t supposed to hit.
In addition, some events will require you to use multiple guns, such as a handgun, entry rifle, and sniper rifle.
A: It’s not standing before a target and shooting.
Every event will require of some type of physical exertion, such as running, push ups, pull ups, or going over some walls, before you can shoot.
And when you take on physical exertions, and you are rushing to beat the clock, there’s a good chance that your blood pressure will rise, your heart rate will increase, and your adrenaline will be going. You can make a mistake if you are rushing and not focused.
For instance, one scenario may require you to shoot a (fake) hostage who has his arms around a (fake) hostage, and you’re given a small portion of the suspect’s area to shoot. If you miss, you can hit the hostage.
Another example they can put you through is, first, the physical exertion portion, followed by “shoot-and-don’t-shoot” targets. You have to think critical or you risk shooting a target that you weren’t supposed to hit.
In addition, some events will require you to use multiple guns, such as a handgun, entry rifle, and sniper rifle.
Q: So how do you train for that?
A: In our training sessions, we set up different scenarios, some where we’ve used multiple guns and shields. We’ve implemented physical exertion activities into our training, and we’ve always been in full gear, which can weigh up to 50 pounds alone.
A: In our training sessions, we set up different scenarios, some where we’ve used multiple guns and shields. We’ve implemented physical exertion activities into our training, and we’ve always been in full gear, which can weigh up to 50 pounds alone.
Q: That’s dedication! You must be looking forward to the big day.
A: We are looking forward to the satisfaction of good clean competition and sportsmanship. We are hoping this competition can further sharpen some of our skill sets and make us a better team for the citizens of Kern County.
Wish us luck!
A: We are looking forward to the satisfaction of good clean competition and sportsmanship. We are hoping this competition can further sharpen some of our skill sets and make us a better team for the citizens of Kern County.
Wish us luck!
2 comments:
Coming over to our neck of the woods, I see. ;)
Yeah where there's great weather! :-) Should be fun!
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