Martinez man wins SRS's top officer event

After a week of shooting at moving targets in the sweltering June heat, Douglas Scott was surprised to find his name atop the leaderboard.

Despite his disbelief, Scott had earned the title of the Department of Energy's Security Police Officer of the Year by beating 61 competitors at the 30th Annual Security Police Officer Training Competition.

"I had no idea that I was in first place," said Scott, a Savannah River Site security police officer. "(The competition) was extremely challenging. It was a good course, they had a lot of good scenarios and it was hot."

This is the third year this Martinez resident has participated in the event, but the first time he has taken the top honor. He received a first place plaque for the individual competition and two engraved coins commemorating the handgun categories he placed third in.

This year, the DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration sponsored the event in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

"The weeklong competition had a little of everything," Scott said. "We have a written test on procedures and a shooting competition negotiating moving targets and involving running, climbing and crawling."

Security officers from sites around the country compete at the annual event with the .40-caliber Glock handguns they carry while on duty.

Originally from Ohio, Mr. Scott moved to Martinez in October of 1999 and continues to work for Wackenhut Security Systems at SRS.

"Douglas works in the operations division of the SRS, which is responsible for the protection of the Westinghouse building in the area near the nuclear reactor," said Rob Davis, a spokesperson from Wackenhut Security Services.

Scott said he enjoys competing in shooting competitions throughout the Southeast and recently took second place in a competition in Richmond, Va. When he's not working security at SRS, Scott stays active canoeing, bicycling and running.

"My goal is to be on the special response team (at SRS) again. That is like a SWAT team," Scott said.

SRS has been involved in the annual training competition since 1983, but this is the first time that one of its own has finished this high in the standings.

Scott plans to return to the event next year to try to win two in a row.

"I guess it's just something that I excel at and enjoy and that's why I do it," Scott said.