Portage Co. Wins SWAT Team of Year Award
By Patrick Lynn
The Portage County Special Response Team (SRT) is now among the best in the state.
The team was honored at the March 4th annual conference of the Wisconsin Association of SWAT Personnel for its part in an armed standoff with one gunman last August in Wautoma.
The Portage Co. SRT was called when 33 year-old Timothy R. Pawlacyk of Redgranite robbed a Wautoma pharmacy and then crashed his getaway car before taking refuge in an unoccupied home for several hours. Pawlacyk shot himself to death inside the house. No one else was injured during the 10-hour standoff.
Other agencies recognized for their efforts include the Waupaca and Waushara county sheriff’s departments, Winnebago County Sheriff’s S.W.A.T Team, and Green Lake Area Combined Tactical Unit.