CSC Summary

2009 CT SWAT Challenge

In our 5th year, we introduced a variety of new advances to make this a world class event. We moved to 7 events and increased our team participation to 37 teams from across the region (up from 33 in 2008) We had teams from 7 states and every major city in the Northeast was represented in some form. Additionally, 10 SWAT teams joined on as new entrants this year and we expect all of them to be back in 2010! As we move forward, our goal will always stay the same: Be the best, not the biggest.

With this goal in mind, we were fortunate enough to enlist the support of 35 Sponsors and nearly 75 Vendors from the best companies that supply the law enforcement officers and military personnel in the world. We again had a first rate Meet and Greet Reception Dinner on the eve of the competition sponsored by Lenco. This was held at a 4 star hotel and included dinner and time for our SWAT Commanders and Team Leaders to meet the company reps that supported the event. We followed this up with a centralized event headquarters venue that allowed all of the events and peripheral activities to be held where the vendor and sponsor tents and booths were set up. Our Mar~Vel Top Cop, Accuracy International Open Sniper, Trijicon Open Rifle, AmChar Open Handgun and Z-Medica TCCC events were all huge hits and were done with unbelievable support form these sponsors. We had a fantastic BBQ Dinner on Wednesday night, sponsored by one of our biggest and best sponsors, Tactical Electronics. It was a great end to day 2 and it continued a tradition that we intend on keeping for years to come.

Once again, each event was done in call out gear, to include entry vests WITH level 4 ballistic plates. No “gaming” was allowed and such tactics as wearing soft body armor outside your uniform or non-rifle round protecting level 3A body armor, shorts, baseball hats or stripped down SWAT rigs were accepted as you will see in so many other SWAT challenges. Our events all were live fire and each one incorporated movement, teamwork, tactics, extreme physical fitness challenges and problem solving. All were head to head and sponsored by the best in law enforcement companies. After 3 days of tremendous competition, we concluded our event with a wonderful awards dinner at a banquet hall which was free for all SWAT team members, sponsors and vendors and sponsored by Patriot3. Nearly 600 people were rewarded for their efforts with a prize giveaway that is THE BEST AND MOST GENEROUS in the United States!!! Our Championship Sponsor, Stag Arms gave a wonderful and generous prize package of 6 tactical rifles! Nearly $125,000 in prizes were given away thanks to our TOP NOTCH SPONSORS AND VENDORS. These prizes were divvied up in a number of ways. Winning and placing teams were rewarded, raffles to the general SWAT teams let us award other prizes, and even more goods were given away on a “need” basis to help spread the equipment in an equitable manner. All of this was possible because of the generosity of the Sponsors and Vendors who committed to our event. We hope to have all of them back to join this grass roots challenge that has helped define the spirit and fortitude of the SWAT Operator in the Northeast. This is a SWAT Challenge run by SWAT cops, for SWAT cops!

As we examine the 2009 Connecticut SWAT Challenge, we observed that better shooting, more dynamic tactics, improved physical fitness, stronger bonds, joint training and familiarization, and advanced problem solving had all markedly improved from 2008. But in spite of all the gains made by the competing teams, one phrase echoed over and over by the SWAT competitors: “We’ll come back better and more prepared for 2010″. It is this type of response that typifies the makeup and character of the SWAT operators in this region. But most importantly, these teams continue to train at the highest levels which results in the residents served by these agencies being safer and better served. The better the SWAT teams are, the better off the communities they serve are. It is with this core goal that the Connecticut SWAT Challenge is held and sponsored by the West Hartford Police Department

All of us here at the West Hartford Police Department want to thank the countless contributions of those individuals, departments, businesses and organizations that came together to make this training event the best of its kind in the northeast. We cant wait to see you all again in 2010! Stay safe and train hard