Local SWAT team takes fourth at world competition
Dealing with hostages, snipers and a barricaded gunman clearly requires some practice.
Only the most skilled members of a police force can deal with these life-and-death crises.
So West suburban residents should rest easy knowing that their police are some of the most skilled in the world.
This spring, police from 14 local departments that make up the FIAT SWAT, or Felony Investigative Assistance Team, took fourth place out of 20 teams invited to the World SWAT Competition in Little Rock, Ark.
During the four-day competition, teams comprised of officers from Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Warrenville and Woodridge participated in 10 events that simulate police emergencies, including sniper defense, armed vehicle assault and a three-gun shootout.
Other FIAT members include: DuPage County, Lisle, Willowbrook, Wood Dale, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Darien, Westmont and the Illinois State Police.
The FIAT SWAT team took second place in the Simunitions Active Shooter competition and third place in both the Stag Arms Vehicle Assault and Alternate-to-Lethal Systems Warrant Service contests.
While this was only the second year the team members competed in the international contest, they finished fourth overall. In 2007, they placed 14th out of 28 teams.
Lt. Jason Cates of the Oak Brook police said that last year helped the officers get their feet wet and -- once they knew what to expect -- they set a goal.
"In 2007 our team had no idea how we would compare to so many teams from across the country and around the world," he said.
"At the conclusion of that competition not a single member of our team felt we performed at a level that accurately reflected our ability. Each of us knew that, as a team, we had the ability to be far more competitive.
"On the last day of the competition in 2007 we made the decision we would return to compete in 2008 with the goal of finishing in the top five. (This year) we returned with that goal and the confidence to achieve it."