The Indian River County Sheriff's Office Corrections Emergency Response Team has returned from competing in the 15 th Annual Southeast SWAT Competition held in Spartanburg, South Carolina May 14-17, 2008. This is the first year that our CERT has competed at this event. Although our team did not have the advantage of being a "returning team", they managed to accumulate THREE trophies in this prestigious competition. Scenarios comprised a combination of skills and endurance, many of them exceeding thirty minutes of continuous intensity. Some of the skills necessary for our team members to compete were only recently acquired during the teams' training dates prior to competition.

Although our team did not finish in the top three places in the overall competition, it was an outstanding accomplishment to be awarded trophies in three of the divisions of competition. An additional note is that our CERT Team was the only Corrections based team that competed. All other competing teams were Law Enforcement SWAT teams.

One trophy had a very special meaning; our team is most proud of being awarded the "Spirit Award". The Spirit Award is a new annual trophy that is awarded in memory of Deputy Kevin Carper, a member of the Spartanburg, South Carolina SWAT team who passed away last year. It is awarded to the team that demonstrates the most spirit during the competition; that performs together as a team better than any other team, and assists other teams more than any other team. The Spartanburg Sheriff's Office held Deputy Carper in high esteem for his qualities, and we recognized the same qualities in Sgt. Jason Bailey, a core member of our IRCSO CERT Competition team, who also tragically passed away last year. We were very grateful when they selected the IRCSO CERT Team for this award, and humbly accepted the award in memory of Sgt. Jason Bailey.

In addition, the IRCSO CERT team was awarded a Second Place Trophy in the "Hostage Rescue Event", and a Third Place Trophy in the "Shotgun Rock Event", an event encompassing a series of multiple shooters who participate in Six Staged Shooters, loading and firing accurately at targets in sequential order. Shooting quickly, accurately, and in order determined the winners.

Participation in major events such as this provides intense competition and the IRCSO CERT Team deserves accolades for this debut performance here. Competitions such as this also build team work, enhance skills and experience which are utilized in training for the scenarios that are as real as they can possibly be, all the way down to having an actor stand in as the "Governor" for the Hostage Rescue Event.

The understanding and support of Sheriff Roy Raymond made it possible for the team to participate, excel, learn new skills, and test stamina, dedication, and training of each team member.

Seven members of the CERT Competition Team gave it their all and continued with their tradition of success.

Sergeant Ryan Haffield

Sergeant Timothy Barnhouse

Sergeant Adam Bailey

Deputy Roger Harringon

Deputy Larry Nusser

Deputy Jeffrey Ripple

Deputy Brad Stevens

Lt. Selby Strickland-Team Commander