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Thursday, September 6, 2007
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SWAT SMART County sheriff's tactical response team stars in area competition Staff Writer In its first year entering the West Central SWAT competition, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Tactical Response Team left all other competitors in its wake.
The competition, conducted Aug. 22 in Fergus Falls, featured five competing tactical teams and more than 100 tactical officers participating in a team scramble, sniper initiated hostage rescue, team bunker shoot and move, individual officer shoot and move and sniper round events.
At the end of the nine-hour day, Crow Wing County had bested the tactical teams from Fergus Falls, Fargo (N.D.)-Moorhead, Willmar and St. Cloud. Crow Wing County won or placed in the top three in each event.
"To go there and beat teams a little bit larger than us speaks volumes for our team," said Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Lasher, tactical team leader. "I'd put our team up against any team there is, as far as our abilities. That has nothing to do with me, but with the character of the guys on our team."
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With Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl (right) looking on, members of the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Tactical Response Team prepared for a sniper-initiated hostage rescue event at the Aug. 22 West Central SWAT competition in Fergus Falls. Crow Wing County's team won the competition, beating out four other tactical teams.
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Sheriff Todd Dahl, who attended the competition, said he was proud of his team's accomplishment.
"I really enjoyed being able to see this team that has practiced so hard, trained so hard, be able to utilize these skills," Dahl said. "These guys should be able to shoot straighter, run faster and jump higher than anyone else. If we set the bar high, they will rise to that standard. They don't do it for recognition. They do it because they are good at what they do."
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Tactical Response Team was invited to the inaugural event in 2006, but was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict.
"And after winning it this year, they jokingly said they weren't inviting us back," said Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Fischer, assistant team leader. Jokes aside, the team will be back in 2008 to defend its title, Fischer added.
The tactical team, started in 1990, is made up of law enforcement officers from Crow Wing County, Baxter, Brainerd, Crosby and Nisswa.
Members of the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Tactical Response Team handle a variety of high-risk situations including felony arrest warrants, narcotics-related warrants, barricaded suspects, hostage situations, active shooter responses and woodland patrols and searches.
A position on the team is voluntary and training is required on members' days off. Tactical team members train twice a month and three times a year team members must complete physical fitness tests that include weight lifting and cardiovascular events that measure strength, speed and endurance. Also three times a year members must qualify with all tactical weapons with an expert marksmanship score.
Lasher said the team is as professional as it is because of the exceptional personnel on it. He also credited the support from current and previous administrations and the county board.
"It has brought this team to a level of performance and competence that the public can feel confident and secure in," he said. "The team is a credit to the county and something we all can be extremely proud of."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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