Long Beach Police Win SWAT Competition

The Long Beach Police Department's SWAT team finished first in a 10-team competition involving Southern California law enforcement agencies, it was announced today. The inaugural SWAT Competition was held Oct. 25 at Burro Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was hosted by the Pasadena Police Department, which did not enter its team.

However, the Pasadena team was announced today as California's ``SWAT Team of the Year'' by the California Association of Tactical Officers. The award will be presented Tuesday at the association's annual conference in San Diego.

The Long Beach team had the highest overall scores in shooting, physical fitness, teamwork and sniper operations. The 10 teams that were entered involved more than 70 SWAT officers competing.

The event raised more than $5,000 for the South Pasadena Police Department's Kevin Sandoval Scholarship Fund. Sandoval died of an unrelated medical condition on June 14 while undergoing tactical training with the Pasadena Police Department SWAT team at Burro Canyon.

``This type of competition improves the capabilities of our tactical units ... to better serve our communities in case of future critical incidents,'' said Pasadena Police Department Chief Phillip Sanchez. ``And it shows the commitment and care that we all share for the Sandoval family and for the memory of their son, Kevin, who was committed to be the finest tactical officer possible.''

--City News Service