Crime & Safety

SWAT Team Places in Top 10 in Urban Shield Competition

The competition pitted 32 tactical teams throughout the nation against one another.

From Newark Police

Battling sleep deprivation, physical and mental fatigue the Newark Police Department’s SWAT team persevered and earned a top 10 finish in the 2012 Urban Shield.

Please join Chief James Leal in congratulating our SWAT Team for their outstanding performance during this year’s Urban Shield competition which was held this past weekend throughout the county.

A total of 32 tactical teams from all over the country, including teams from Texas and Chicago IL., as well as the Brazilian Special Operations Battalion and the United States Marine Corps 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, competed in a grueling 48 hour continuous exercise that included 38 different scenarios.

Newark PD's team placed 8th overall, which is an amazing accomplishment when considering the size of many of the competing departments and the fact that many have full-time teams. The NPD SWAT team was also one of only four teams to complete the Colt Firearms specialty combat challenge successfully.

Our community can sleep well knowing this dedicated group of officers trained hard over the past several months in anticipation of this event and their dedication, teamwork, effort, and work ethics propelled them into the top of the field and are ready to respond to any and all crisis! Thanks again to all involved for a job well done!

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