Ottawa tactical unit first Canadians to compete in Dubai SWAT competition

A team of Ottawa police officers, used to dealing in high pressure situations, now have a new experience under their belts after competing in an international SWAT competition.

Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Tactical Unit Sergeant Rob Wyers was asked, back in September of 2019, to join an international panel of SWAT experts, as the Canadian representative, to review training procedures. The OPS says officials on that panel were impressed with Wyers' skills and knowledge, so they invited the OPS tactical team to the international SWAT competition in Dubai, which ran from February 9 to 13. 

It was the first time a Canadian team participated in the competition, which is by invitation only and paid for by Dubai police.

Seven Ottawa officers arrived from their 15-hour flight with just one day to spare before competition began. Other teams had arrived earlier to prepare.

“We didn't come first, but we gave it our best,” said Sgt. Tom McFadden, a 10-year veteran of the OPS Tactical Unit. “We persevered through illnesses and injuries during the five day competition, coming away with positive results.”

The sergeant said his team earned the respect of the other competitors, given their short prep time, and left a lasting impression with their song choice for the obstacle course. 

“Other teams picked heavy metal music, but we wanted something truly Canadian.” They played The Hockey Song by Stompin’ Tom Connors. 

“From everywhere, people were running out of their tents to see what was going on when they heard the music,” said Sgt. McFadden. “We quickly became fan favourites and we ran out of the swag we brought.”

The Ottawa team's competition highlight was the rappel/sniper event, where they placed 18th overall.

“It was a great opportunity to meet tactical officers from around the world, teams that are dealing with events we hear about in the news,” explained Sgt. McFadden. “It’s nice to see our training and techniques follow global best practices, and sharing information between organizations makes our work safe and our communities safer.”

The OPS Tactical Unit is a group of specially-trained officers who respond to more than 100 high risk incidents each year — anything from a warrant execution to a hostage situation.