SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety SWAT team members have taken the top honors at this year’s Best in the West competition, the seventh time they have been named the overall top team.
Best in the West is an annual competition hosted by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department to test SWAT teams. Twenty-nine teams competed this year, bringing together teams from throughout the Bay area, Southern California, state and federal agencies, and a team from Reno. In this year’s competition, held Thursday and Friday (September 21 – 22), there were six challenge events. The Sunnyvale team placed first in the physical challenge; second in the long gun exercise, which is similar to sniper fire; and third in the team assault exercise, which parallels hostage rescue tactics. When all the events were completed, Sunnyvale’s record put them in the top spot.
Sunnyvale DPS has competed in 12 of the 15 Best in the West tests, and has placed in the top five overall in every competition they have entered. Sunnyvale’s record in the competition is remarkable, particularly in light of the fact that unlike many law enforcement agencies, DPS SWAT assignments are a secondary duty. Sunnyvale does not maintain a dedicated SWAT team that has no other duties. In addition, all Sunnyvale DPS sworn personnel are trained and proficient in fire protection as well as law enforcement, and officers rotate periodically between the two services. DPS team members this year include Lieutenants Joel Whitmer, Scott McDowell, Tracy Hern, Vinnie Mata and Don Discher; and Public Safety Officers Emmett Larkin and Tim Sartwell.