The Waupaca County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was among several area agencies receiving the 2013 SWAT Team of the Year Award.
On Aug. 13, 2013, Waupaca County tactical officers joined with SWAT teams from Waushara, Portage, Winnebago and Green Lake counties in responding to an armed robbery near Wautoma.
The incident began when 33-year-old Timothy R. Pawlacyk, Redgranite, robbed a Wautoma-area pharmacy, then fled the scene in a high-speed chase. After his vehicle became stuck in a construction zone, Pawlacyk ran to a nearby home, exchanging fire with deputies. He broke into the house, which was unoccupied at the time.
A standoff continued late into the night until the Waupaca County SWAT team made entry to the home and found Pawlacyk dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No one else was injured during the 10-hour long sequence of events.
Members of the Waupaca County SWAT team come from the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, as well as police departments in New London, Waupaca, Clintonville, Iola and Marion.