Twenty Orange County Sheriff’s Explorers spent the weekend of January 18, 19, & 20, 2008 in Chandler, Arizona competing in the 2008 Law Enforcement Explorer Tactical Competition.  Post Coordinator Deputy Gary M. Smith (Community Services Division) and Post Advisors Deputy Joe Mauga (South Division), Supervisor Karen Daly (Lake Forest Division), Deputy Maria Mendoza (West Division) and Deputy Bart Epley (North Division), accompanied the Explorers on their journey. 

The Sheriff’s team competed against over 795 explorers from Explorer Posts throughout the nation.  Due to the excellent training they received from their division advisors, and our SWAT members, Explorer Post 449 took a second place trophy in the Tubular Assault Scenario and a second place trophy in the Hogan’s Alley (Shoot/Don’t Shoot) Scenario.  In the Male Obstacle Course event, Explorer Alex Kim of the South Division earned a first place trophy!  And Deputy Bart Epley took the third place trophy in the Advisor Obstacle Course.  Please join in congratulating the following Explorers, who proudly and very capably represented our department:

1. Jessica Ortega (North)     
2. Elizabeth Jimenez (North)
3. Stephanie Ramirez (North) 
4. Yanira Rojo (West)
5. Christina Colima (West)     
6.  Katie DeCoup-Crank (RSM)
7. Blanca Guerrero (North) 
8. Frank Salgado (West)
9. Jesus Bonilla (North) 
10. Alex Wong (West)
11. Jeremy Buraglia (West) 
12. Alan Cleveland (South)                                                           
13. Alex Kim (South) 
14. Travis Sbabo (North)
15. Oscar Gutierrez (Tri-cities) 
16. Cameron Newett (Harbor)
17. Lex Ogan (Tri-cities) 
18. Aaron Gutierrez (Tri-cities)
19. David McElwain (LF) 
20. John Leahy (LF)

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 Jack Anderson - Operations
Captain Dave Wilson – Community Services Division Commander
Captain Kathy Zurn – Training Division Commander
Lieutenant Tom Slayton – Community Services Division
Lieutenant Roger Neumeister – Community Services Division
Lieutenant Hans Strand - SWAT & Transportation Bureau
Ken Merrell & Deputy Joe Warner – Tactical Training Center
Deputies Mike Perez, Doug Earl, Chris Ledbetter – SWAT
Office Supervisor Karen Waters & Office Specialists Cathy Paneque, Patti Riechardt, & Cherlyn Bullington – Community Services Division
Accounting Assistant Kathy Hayes – Travel Desk/Financial