Like my parents before me, Theresa and I encourage our three sons to identify and pursue their passion, regardless of what it is. I feel lucky because I always knew I wanted to be a police officer.
When I stopped by the SDPD Firearms Training Range on Friday morning, it reminded me of my passion for law enforcement. I saw potential new SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Officers
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| SWAT Candidate |
I could heard the large volume of gunfire as SWAT candidates were learning advanced weapons skills and I saw officers carrying their tactical gear. They yelled, "Good morning sir" as they marched past.
The oppressive heat accentuated the unyielding effects of gravity on each of them as they strained under the burden of their heavy tactical body armor, weapons, ammunition and other gear which all seemed to be pressing them relentlessly towards our solid brown earth.
The sweat streaming off their faces reminded me once again what it means to the few SWAT officers who will successfully graduate and are awarded the honor of wearing a shiny brass SWAT pin on their dark blue San Diego Police uniforms.
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| SRT Officer Brad Pickett and SWAT Executive Lieutenant Tina Williams |
I noticed senior SRT (Special Response Team) Officer Brad Pickett was leading the training cadre.
We always called him "Bradman." An excellent trainer and SWAT operator. There were countless occasions where myself and other SWAT Officers worked with Brad and other team members to stop evil people who were intent on killing.
Being on a Perimeter, React or Entry Team as the door or wall of a home is breached with water backed explosive charges or feeling CS gas burning your lungs and eyes as flash bang diversionary devices were detonated, developed a certain bond between all of us. Trusting someone with your life will do that to a person.
I felt a sense of melancholy when Brad said this would be his last SWAT Academy. As I looked through my I-Phone viewer and took a picture of Brad and SWAT Executive Lieutenant Tina Williams, I realized how much the SWAT team has improved over the years.
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| Ray back in the day... |
You can tell from the photograph to the right, the quality of our equipment was historically poor. I was using my hand held tactical mirror to peek around a corner of a wall in a training scenario at Camp Pendelton. I laugh when I see this photograph today, because that mirror was about as fancy as our equipment got and we each had to buy our own.
At SWAT missions the SEV (Special Equipment Vehicle) would roll up and pass out a limited number of helmets, gear and used Vietnam era AR-15 rifles and shotguns. You learned to get to the Command Post early because it was like lining up at an ice cream truck in the middle of summer. The selection of the best items dwindled quickly.
Thanks to the support of the very generous business owners of ECHO Pacific, MOR Furniture, Citizens for SWAT Citizens for SWAT website and people like Dan Barnett, Tom Schwiebert, Padre baseball player Brian Giles and Assistant San Diego Police Chief Mark Jones, we now have one of the best equipped SWAT teams in the country.
I visited briefly with Lt. Williams who is one of the handful of woman who ever successfully completed a SWAT Academy and like Brad she is a trusted and respected team member. Don't be fooled by her size. Tina is an excellent XO and is a great compliment to SWAT Commanding Officer, Lt. Mark Saunders.
As I walked towards my car with Lt. Williams, she mentioned there are nineteen SDPD SWAT candidates and five officers from outside agencies in the academy and they had a qualification shoot later in the afternoon. Neither of us said anything, but we both knew several of these men we saw today would likely not be around at the end of the academy.
As the days wear on history has shown the constant stress, physical and mental demands and ability to consistently make sound decisions in difficult and rapidly changing environments results in candidates dropping on request or being dismissed from the SWAT Academy.
It was good to see that despite having improved equipment the high standards of the team are clearly intact. After all, under all that gear is simply a person's judgement and bravery. It is what keeps these peacekeepers and our citizens as safe as possible as they enter the unforgiving world where there are no "do overs" and the margin for error is razor thin.
The combination of a supportive community and a professional law enforcement agency is what helps these men and women pursue their highest priority, which is always the preservation of human life. An honorable goal that is well worth the exceptional effort being put forth by both citizens and police.
If you are interested in golfing at our 10th Annual Golf Tournament at Maderas to raise funds for the SDPD SWAT Team - Click on the following link:
SDPD SWAT Golf Tournament
Have a great week!
Copyrighted - All Rights Reserved - Shay Realtors 2014
