From November 10 through 14, 2003, eight members of the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team participated in Orlando, Florida in the 120th Annual "SWAT Round Up." The yearly event is hosted by the Orlando's Orange County Sheriff's Office.
This is the largest SWAT event of this type in the world and an international showcase for special operations teams. Referred to by many as the "Tactical Olympics", teams from Asia, Europe and North America go head to head in this weeklong competition. The intensity of this year’s competition was no exception to that of previous years. A total of 80 military and law enforcement teams from the United States of America, Bosnia, Germany, Hungary, Canada and Great Britain competed against each other in five team events designed to test tactical team’s abilities.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) team comprised of eight officers and one supervisor was selected to represent SWAT based on their performance under pressure, skill, athleticism and tactical abilities. Officers Robert J. Cottle, Steve Gordon, Lee McMillion, Gary Koba, Steve Weaver, Timothy McCarthy, William Casey, Tom Chinappi and Lieutenant Albanese, who is the SWAT team’s Officer-in-Charge, were chosen to get the job done. LAPD’s team began training for the event in September 2003, and nothing less than maximum effort would produce the desired result to bring home the gold. This year, LAPD's team placed fourth.
We would like to acknowledge the support of Mr. Ken Corday, retired SWAT Officer Ron McCarthy and the Los Angeles Police Protective League. We would also like to thank the LAPD family for their continued encouragement and support throughout the years.
inside the lapd 
