Explorer Post 449

Twenty Orange County Sheriff's Explorers spent the second weekend in January in Chandler, Arizona competing in the 2007 Law Enforcement Explorer Tactical Competition. Post Coordinator Deputy Dan Daniels (Community Services Division) and Post Advisors Deputy Joe Mauga (South Division), Deputy Ray Botta (South Division), Deputy Naomi Jimenez (Intake Release Center) and Deputy Bart Epley (Community Services Division), accompanied the Explorers on their journey. The Sheriff's team competed against over 700 explorers from Explorer Posts throughout the nation. Due to the excellent S.W.A.T. training they received from Investigator Steve Swiderski, Explorer Post 449 took a fifth place trophy in the Rapid Deployment Scenario and a fifth place trophy in the Downed Officer Scenario. In the Male Obstacle Course event, Explorer Sebastian Marin earned a fifth place trophy. Please join in congratulating the following Explorers, who proudly and very capably represented our department:

• Mike Grijalva
• Carl Dossland
• Matt Padilla
• William Banis
• Tom Perkins
• Jessica Ortega
• Jon Labarbera
• Sebastian Marin
• Rian Straly
• John Masters
• Pat White
• Andrew Ha
• Yanira Rojo
• Ryan McInnis
• Blanca Guerrero
• Elizabeth Jimenez
• Richard Shoopman
• Nichole Garcia
• Lex Ogan
• Shane Bailey

Explorer Post 449 would like to thank the following Sheriff's personnel for their assistance with the finances, training, travel arrangements, and equipment necessary for this competition.

• Assistant Sheriff Kim Markuson - Operations
• Captain Dave Wilson - Community Services Division Commander
• Captain Christine Murray - North Operations Division Commander
• Captain Dan Martini - Training Division Commander
• Lieutenant Tom Slayton - Community Services Division
• Lieutenant Roger Neumeister - Community Services Division
• Lieutenant James Lazzaro - SWAT & Transportation Bureau
• Sergeant Kirk Antes, Deputy Dan Meyers & Deputy Terry Stepp - Transportation Bureau
• Sergeant Jim Tucker & Deputy Joe Warner - Tactical Training Center
• Investigator Steve Swiderski - SWAT
• Office Supervisor Karen Waters & Office Specialists Cathy Paneque, Patti Riechardt, & Cherlyn Bullington -
• Community Services Division
• Accounting Assistant Kathy Hayes - Travel Desk/Financial
• Analyst Kathy Douglas - ASR's/Grants - Financial/Administrative Services