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# Santa Monica police are SWAT champions
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-police-are-swat-champions/
- Published: 2002-09-20T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:44:39.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Santa Monica Police Department’s SWAT team took first place this week in the Eighth Annual Ventura Police Department’s SWAT competition.

SMPD’s SWAT team beat out seven other teams from cities in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties.

“We clearly dominated the event,” said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.

The competition consisted of several events: two tactical scenario, two obstacle courses, five shooting events that required each operator to accurately fire a submachine gun, hand gun, shot gun, and.223 rifle. Additionally, two team members participated in the long gun event firing the.308 rifle.

Sgt. Mike Braaten earned the Top Gun award, which included a competition against 42 other operators firing several weapon systems. His overall score was based on elapsed time and accuracy in four shooting events.

The Santa Monica police team also won the obstacle course by producing the fastest time of the day.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/092002-03_01.jpg)

of the Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department’s SWAT. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 20, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092002.pdf?ref=smdp.com)