International SWAT teams gather in Orange County for 2026 round-up

SWAT teams from across the country and around the world are putting their skills to the test in Orange County this week — scaling walls, breaching doors and tackling high-pressure tactical challenges.Nearly 40 teams, including units from Hungary, St. Maarten and Jamaica, are participating in the 2026 SWAT Round-Up International, hosted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.The multi-day event combines competition with training, giving officers a chance to share strategies and learn from one another while testing their teamwork and physical skills.Tuesday’s featured competition, the “Pricher Scramble,” starts at 11 a.m. at the sheriff’s office training range on Wewahootee Road. Teams will race through an obstacle course that includes walls, door breaches and targets.Despite the international turnout, this is not a spectator event: The competition is closed to the public.Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News li