San Angelo S.W.A.T. Training Upgrades Facilities

The San Angelo S.W.A.T. team recently saw a huge upgrade in their training facilities thanks to a generous contribution of manpower and material from AEP Texas.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, SAPD S.W.A.T. Commander Lieutenant Mike Hernandez expressed gratitude to the members of AEP Texas who contributed their time and efforts in the construction phase of the project.

The facility, now located at the SAPD Gun Range, first opened for training in May of this year and offers an obstacle course similar to those used by the military.

“Our old training center was at the Academy,” Hernandez said, “We had a rope tied to a tree, we had a chain-link fence to get over a wall.” Hernandez continued. This is a serious upgrade.

Following a meeting in Spring of this year, plans to repair the previous facility were scrapped in favor of building a completely new obstacle course, which had been postponed for several years due to budgetary constraints.

When Commander Lieutenant Hernandez contacted AEP Manager of Community Affairs Fred Hernandez concerning a few holes and poles he needed dug for the course, he wasn’t expecting any donations, and especially not on the scale of which he received.

“Hernandez sent out two guys,” the Lieutenant said, “We just expected them to put two holes out there, but when they were done, they said ‘Well, is that all?’”.

It wasn’t. AEP ended up staying on with the project until completion, and donating not only their time and manpower, but also the equipment and materials.

“This project would not have been possible had it not been for AEP stepping in.”, said Lt. Mike Hernandez in an SAPD press release, “Their generosity and willingness to help us create a safe and challenging course is very much appreciated. 

 “Our agency, along with our City Council, would like to recognize AEP and their employees as true police-community partners who saw a need and filled it.  This new obstacle course is not only a benefit to the team, but to our entire community.”

 This generosity and willingness to help was formally recognized in Tuesday’s City Council meeting with a plaque accepted by Fred Hernandez, Randy Wessels, Line Crew Leader and Mark Koegel, Line Mechanic, all of whom proved instrumental in the construction of the new course.

SAPD S.W.A.T operators William Farris and Chris Chappa were also recognized for taking charge of the project, and contributing their time and money to efforts.

The SAPD S.W.A.T. is currently using its new obstacle course for training, but will open its doors for S.W.A.T. tryouts at the end of October.

The S.W.A.T. team also cooperates with community charities by occasionally offering a S.W.A.T. Team Training Day to contest winners.