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On September 24,
2001, several members of the Santa Monica Special Entry Team competed
in the Ventura Police Department’s SWAT Competition. The team
consisted of six members with two alternates. Santa Monica competed
against seven other teams from cities within Los Angeles, Ventura and
Orange Counties.
Each team competed in
eight events. Three of the events were obstacle courses that tested
the physical strength and stamina of every team member. Another event
involved a gunman at a school with students present. As the team
formulated their plan, shots ran out requiring the team to rapidly
deploy, find and confront the gunman. As the team moved through the
school towards the gunfire, they had to maneuver around pipe bombs and
trip wires.
The four remaining
events were shooting scenarios requiring the team to shoot sub-machine
guns, sniper rifles, shotguns and handguns. Each event required both
speed and accuracy with teams having to shoot targets positioned next
to simulated hostages.
The team from Santa
Monica placed second overall.
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