LAXPD Shooting Team Flies High Once Again
Los Angeles, CA – The LAXPD Marksmanship Team has been revived. Early in 2009, LA Airport Police Officers Carlos Gonzalez and Sergio Barot reformed a shooting team to represent the LAXPD during the Western States Police and Fire Games (WSPFG) in the Action Pistol competition. During the event, many seasoned competitors from other agencies told Carlos and Sergio that they remembered competing against the once highly competitive LA Airport Police Pistol Team in years past and were glad to see a new generation of cops moving forward to represent their agency in the shooting sports.
This rejuvenated team, along with long time competition shooter Sergeant Bob Richardson, participated in the 2009 Nevada Police and Fire Games (NPAF Games) in Las Vegas. These gunslingers shot the challenging National Rifle Association Police Pistol Combat match and took home a total of 10 medals, including two Golds!
This year, their amazing start continued, on July 24th, Officer Carlos Gonzalez was the sole representative for the LAXPD in the 2010 WSPFG, held in Reno, Nevada. Officer Gonzalez brought home the gold by besting 35 other shooters in his Classification and placed 8th overall out of 119 competitors during the Action Pistol event.
Officers Gonzalez and Barot returned to Las Vegas this August for the 2010 NPAF Games and once again repeated another stellar performance. Barot competed in the Patrol and Long Range Rifle events and received top honors taking gold in both. Barot also won a bronze in the Police Pistol Combat (PPC) pistol event, a silver and bronze medal in the PPC revolver event, and a bronze medal for the team revolver match. Carlos was awarded a Bronze in the PPC pistol match, two golds in revolver, and his bronze for the two man team revolver match.
The newly reformed Los Angeles Airport Police Marksmanship Team is growing and is off to an outstanding start. “Next year’s the 2011 WSPFG are being held in Ontario, California and we are hoping to grow even more, from four members to between 8 and12 competitors for the Action Pistol event and just as much, or more, for the PPC matches.” affirms Gonzalez “I love to shoot competitively; my goal is to show everyone our prowess and why the airports that our officers protect are in fact the safest areas in the world.”
The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association represents more than 425 sworn police officers and firefighters of the Los Angeles Airport Police Department assigned to protect and serve Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Its Mission is to maintain a leadership role in organizing, empowering and representing the interests of all current and retired members.
