Yesterday I finished training at the Utah Police Academy to be an impact weapons instructor. I am beat to shit! This is one of many certifications that are required to continue teaching at POST. I have been through defensive tactics instructor course 3 times, PPCT, PPCT baton, spontaneous knife defense, Tazer, Intoxilyzer, Instructor development, SWAT training, and now impact weapon instructor. I recieved a black belt from Korean martial arts Master Don Jin Kim in defensive tactics/arrest control and there are many more trainings and certifications but I don't recall them, its been almost eight years.

I didn’t realize that I had so many certifications until I was talking to my wife last night and she reminded me that I have more certifications than anyone she knows. I am not trying to brag at all. I am overwhelmed to tell the truth. All these different arrest control techniques and pain compliance techniques are starting to get jumbled together. Each time I teach I have to refresh my memory on the system that I am presenting.

During in service training it is not such a big deal, I can teach whatever kind of wazoo who flung poo stuff I want as long as I have a lesson plan and the sheriff approves of it. But when it comes to the pre-service academy, there is no ad lib. You teach to the test and it is very structured and very militaristic. I think teaching rocks and I have earned my stripes when it comes to being an instructor. I have torn my meniscus; have cartilage damage in both knees, permanent bruises on both elbows from ground fighting and force cell entries. All for the SO!!! Gotta love it…

It’s well worth the effort and very rewarding. The way I look at it the better I make these officers at defensive tactics, the more of an asset they will be and the safer we all are on the job and in public.

Because I always go home no matter what, and so will they... NO MATTER WHAT.