The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) won the 36th International SWAT Round-Up Competition this past week, at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Range. This year’s competition yielded 54 SWAT teams from six different countries. These 6 days of training included two days of instruction and four days of competition. Instructional classes included situational debriefs, firearms, breeching, room clearing and other occupational instruction.

The competition included the following:

Blind event – Competitors were given a hostage rescue scenario, Osceola County SWAT took third place in this event.

Pricher Scramble – Competitors navigated several obstacles and engage designated targets with both handguns and rifles, Osceola County SWAT took second place in this event.

Officer Rescue – Competitors navigated several obstacles and engage designated targets with both handgun and rifles. The competitors had to rescue a selected officer and carry him/her through the remaining obstacles and over the finish line. Osceola County SWAT took third place in this event.

Tower Scramble – Competitors were required to navigate numerous obstacles and engage designated targets they were also required to ascend and rappel from the Orange County Range Tower. Osceola County SWAT took third place in this event.

Obstacle Course – Competitors were required to navigate numerous obstacles as a group, including traversing high wall, crawling under obstacles submerged in water and climbing ropes. Osceola County SWAT took sixth place in this event.

The Osceola Sheriff Office’s SWAT team’s combined score was 258 or 7 points higher than the second place team from (NASA SWAT) and 19 points in front of the third place team (TEK Hungary). Their SWAT team was a group of 22 men and women that are trained to assist the agency when situations arise that may exceed the responding deputy’s resources and understanding.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the work that our SWAT team has put in, not just to prepare for this competition, but to be prepared to respond, serve and protect our community from anything that may happen. Coming out in first place in this international competition, along with impressive performances from the Kissimmee Police Department and the St. Cloud Police Department, shows that Osceola County has some of the best SWAT teams in the world, and our dedication is to be ready to protect and serve our citizens at any moment.” – Sheriff Russ Gibson