Corrections Officer needs assistance

[Damian (Instructor)]

Damian,

I appreciate you taking the time to write me personally. It was a seriously great unexpected surprise. Gotta tell ya’, RIGHT outta’ the gate, that I am NO “bad-ass”, persay. I BARELY know how to block instinctively, and literally have NO “offense” to speak of. I never learned how to box/fight,….only how to “TAKE” hits, so you’re NOT dealing with some type/kind of trained fighter here at ALL. My name, is Trevor Zylstra. I am 42, soon to be 43 yrs. old. I am a Correctional Officer, at a medium security level prison in Clayton, NM. I JUST graduated the “academy”, at the end of June, where I “breezed” through a FEW throwing techniques, and DEFENSIVE techniques. It, (the academy), made me realize, that I NEED to learn more skills to be able to react more quickly and effectively, to be able to shut down a possible attack, but at the same time, WITHOUT causing myself to get sued. Anyways, without wasting too much of your time, I’d just like to say, that I’d like to learn more about defending from surprise attack. (Typically from behind, or side, as is MOSTLY the case, when “dealing” with inmates.) I’d be interested in defending from edged weapons, multiple attackers, and techniques that STOP action immediately, do THE most “damage” possible, but yet do NOT kill. I’m sure that you get my main point, that what I want to learn and need to know, is mostly for work, but at the SAME time, should something happen occur out on the street, that I could stop the action AND have SOME way of DRIVING off an attack?
Very sincerely,

Trevor “Dr. Trevorkian” Zylstra

Trevor,

Thanks for reaching out and I will get you fixed up, right away.

Listen, most guys who think they’re bad asses, well aren’t. So don;t worry about that. I never thought of myself as one, but I’m not going to bullshit you – I’m pretty tough and toughness comes from training and experience. Knowing what to do and then executing it in the field.

Dealing with bad guys on a daily basis can get a little dicey. I’ve trained a lot of corrections officers and while most times guys behind the wall behave, they are dangerous and they do have a tendency to “express themselves in violent ways.”

Your observations are correct. A few weeks of training does not ready you to face someone who has had a life filled with violence. Fortunately there are procedures in place that make your job safer, but in the case where procedure break down – we will help you, it’s what we do…

Getting sued.

OK, I can’t tell you you won’t get sued. No matter WHAT You do. An inmate can sue anybody over anything. You should have a good PBA lawyer and if you’re defending your life – all bets are off. You need to do what EVER you can do to survive. As long as it’s not excessive.

For example.

Inmate attacks you with a shiv. You pick up a chair and defend yourself with the Lion Tamer Technique (SDTS MODULE 8). You knock him to the ground and he surrenders – the cavalry comes in and he’s done. You’re good.

But IF you decide to stomp is face into the ground after your boys have him locked down…that MIGHT be a little excessive.

OK, that being said, I have a problem with your liability concern…and it’s not your fault. It’s the fault of your trainers and the people who put that thought into your head.

It’s bullshit and the risk is minimal.

You’re more likely to have to defend a body cavity search than an excessive use of force incident.

YOUR SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST. The split second you hesitate, you will be in danger. The people who put that thought in your head should be fired or put behind a desk.

The so-called techniques that are supposed to work, don’t and even if you manage to get a guy in a joint lock…he can STILL sue you.

Regarding all of your technical questions – we have all of that and it start with MODULE 1!!!

The SDTS assumes your attacker is armed and has friends – ALWAYS!

The best thing I can tell you is to start the SDTS. NOW. It’s only 19.95 and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Damian

[James Goolsby]

[Damian Ross],

As always, right on the money

Might I also recommend the Guardian Defensive Tactics course for him? Not really SDTS “light”, per se, but it is a bit more law enforcement friendly, if only in philosophy, not technique. I think the combination of programs fit the bill for us LEO’s quite nicely.

j

[Damian (Instructor)]

And you NEED that combination.

Non-lethal doesn’t work without the “lethal” backing it up.

[Damian (Instructor)]

I was a Correctional Officer for 3 years in WV, you can learn to disguise a lot of techniques that are on the force contium if you need advice or specfics let me know!

[Author]

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