SPECIAL TO THE PVT Shown here carrying Air Soft rifles a recent training conference for law enforcement and military agencies, NCSO Dep. John Kakavulias leads two officers from other agencies while Sgt. Mike Horn brings up the rear. Advertisement

Nye County Sheriff's Office tactical instructors recently bested SWAT teams from law enforcement agencies throughout the country at the ninth annual training conference held by the United States National Standards of Training Association.

Sgt. Michael Horn and Dep. John Kakavulias, NCSO's head instructors for defensive tactics, finished second, beating all but the military Special Forces team.

The conference, held at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Dec. 15 through 19, attracted personnel from police departments and sheriff's offices as well as Special Forces.

During the event instructors were recertified in defensive tactics, which includes use of force, hand-to-hand combat, firearm retention and take-away techniques as well as other defensive strategies.

According to Sheriff Tony DeMeo, the yearly conference brings together the best trainers from law enforcement, corrections, the military, protective services and security forces. The group collaborates and trains personnel in the latest methods of modern tactics and use of acceptable levels of force that are continually changing in all 50 states.

DeMeo said the organization's goal is to make the training available to all forces protecting communities and "to ultimately save lives."

The conference hosts a SWAT challenge that pits teams of two against each other in an environment outfitted with obstacles as well as makeshift barricades for cover and concealment. While NCSO did not send any SWAT members to the conference, DeMeo said Horn and Kakavulias "stepped up to the challenge."

The teams used Air Soft firearms with the winners of each round advancing to the next round.

Notably proud of Nye County's team, DeMeo credited the instructors with helping train all the NCSO deputies to a high level of proficiency. "All our patrol deputies are trained in defensive and street survival tactics," he said.

"As a former SWAT trainer and commander, one of my priorities when I took office was to make sure the deputies have a high level of training in various situations that might put their lives in jeopardy. I credit our deputies' training for the successful outcome at the Lakeside shooting," said DeMeo.

He was referring to a Sept. 19 incident at Terrible's Lakeside RV park where more than 50 shots were fired by a suspect, leaving K-9 Dep. Eric Murphy wounded.

"That whole situation could have had deadly consequences," said DeMeo. "We had trained for the exact situation that occurred and our men and women reacted quickly and appropriately at a time when lives were on the line."

Other specific training at the conference included instructor development, how to control suspects using pressure points on the arm and wrist, how to conduct high risk felony vehicle stops, tactical firearm training from various positions, including laying face up on the ground and using alternate hand shooting.