The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Snipers placed in the top 10 at Snipercraft’s SniperWeek Team Challenge event held on May 5 & 6, 2023. This is the second year in a row FCSO’s SWAT Snipers have placed in the top 10 during the annual national sniper competition. This year’s competition and training was held in St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida.
Commander Brian Finn and Officer Dylan Sylvester placed 9th, while Sergeant Ron Mello and Sergeant Frank Gamarra placed 11th out of 48 teams competing from across the country. Sniper teams were comprised of part-time and full-time snipers from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies from over 14 states, including Hawaii participated.
Additionally, Sergeant Gamarra placed 2nd in a charity side-shoot competition to help raise money for Smile Train, an organization which provides funding for corrective surgeries for children born with cleft palates who wouldn’t otherwise receive the needed surgery.
Before the competition, the snipers attended Snipercraft’s two-day educational seminar which featured lectures and presentations covering operational reviews, tactics, equipment, case studies, and more. Snipers met with on-site venders from industry-leading companies who showcased cutting-edge tactical equipment for SWAT Snipers.
“Congratulations to our deputies for their impressive performance and placing in the top 10 at the sniper competition,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Their hard work, training and dedication paid off. This is another example of how well-trained our SWAT team is, and the community should feel comfortable knowing they are being protected by a well-trained team.”
“On behalf of the Sniper team, we are grateful to have been given the opportunity to compete and train, as well as represent the FCSO among all of the other agencies who participated in this event,” said Commander Finn. “Being able to learn and network with snipers from around the country has been an invaluable experience.”
Denali says
Not to take anything away from the accomplishments of these deputies but the question must be asked; “Is this something that the Flagler County taxpayers need to support?” A week of salaries, travel time, per diem for four deputies does not come cheap especially for small county with virtually no need for this level of specialized training and competition. I realize the Staley somehow has the county commissioners over a barrel with the way he gets his budgets approved but was this an actual line item or discretionary spending?