The Sun | 0342 | October 15, 2003

October 15, 2003 Sunnyvale, California Since 1994

Photograph courtesy of Lynn Sartwell

Sunnyvale SWAT team member Tim Sartwell clears an obstacle during the Jungle Trail event in the 2003 Best of the West SWAT competition. Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety took event competition honors, finishing 'First Place—Overall Team.' Eighteen teams from throughout California competed in the annual event hosted by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department.

City's SWAT team places first

By Pallavi Somusetty

The Sunnyvale Public Safety Department took first-place honors in the overall team category at the annual "Best in the West" competition hosted by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department. This marks the sixth first-place win for Sunnyvale in the competition of Special Weapons and Tactics law enforcement officers.

The Best in the West competition is a combination of individual and team events that test physical condition, marksmanship and tactics.

"Officers joke that we're just guns and hoses," said Capt. Tim Carlyle, referring to the officers who are cross-trained in police and fire. But what makes the victory special is that Sunnyvale's Special Weapons and Tactics team members train in addition to their assigned duties in police and fire.

"We complete against teams that are full-time SWAT," said Carlyle.

In addition to the overall team win, Sunnyvale public safety officers took top honors in the physical challenge event, a grueling obstacle course, as well as the jungle trail, which combines an obstacle course with marksmanship events.

The team's first-place win this year comes on top of a history of similar victories dating back to 1995. The city's SWAT team was formed in 1970.

This year's Best in the West attracted teams from throughout California. Under the leadership of Officer in Charge Lt. Doug Sims, public safety officers Bill Honsal, Binnie Mata, Tim Sartwell, Scott McDowell, Regan Williams and Donald Discher completed the team.