SWAT Team Wants To Compete in Round-UP

Pasco County’s Unified SWAT Team has a chance to learn from the best and compete with SWAT teams from throughout the world at a competition in Orlando. This November.  

But it needs help getting there.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office wants to send the SWAT team, which has deputies and New Port Richey police officers on it, to the 31st annual Swat Round-up in Orlando Nov. 10-Nov. 15. But the agency doesn’t want to use tax money to fund their trip. So, it’s seeking donations to pay for it.

The agency estimates it will take $8,000 to send five the SWAT team to the conference. It needs to pay to register its team,  put it up in a hotel and cover expenses.  

The Round-Up is an opportunity to learn from experts in dealing with crisis situations and to bring home new law enforcement techniques.

“This SWAT competition is truly a learning experience for our members to enhance our professionalism,” Sheriff Chris Nocco said in a press release.

Each afternoon, five to eight members of Pasco’s SWAT team will get to compete with SWAT teams from throughout the world in contests of skill.

SWAT teams from as far as Romania, Jamaica, Bosnia Brazil have participated in the Round-Up, It’s a chance for Pasco to prove it has the top cops in challenges that include hostage rescues, obstacle courses, and sniping.

“We’re hoping at the end of the week to be at the top,” said Chief Forensic Investigator James Steffens, who leads the SWAT team.

The agency already received $1,000 check from the West Central Florida Police Benevolence Association to help them get to the competition. Donors who want to give then some more help can make out a check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities and mail it to P.O. Box 1746, Land O’ Lakes, Fl, 34369.