Remember, our loved ones are waiting for us back home, in one piece. Emotionally as well as physically. Be there.

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George Rodger Russell
5 years ago
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Mission and purpose: Reduce the line of duty deaths of police officers to less than 100 per year. The last time the number of line of duty officer deaths was below 100 was 1943.

1 Mission and purpose: Reduce the line of duty deaths of police officers to less than 100 per year. The last time the number of line of duty officer deaths was below 100 was Since that time, they reached a high of 278 in 1974 and for the last five years have fluctuated between 116 and 185. The deaths for 2010 totaled more than 160. Over the course of the last ten years, more than 150 officers (on average) have died each year in the line of duty. Although the number of deaths is significantly lower than it was in the 70 s, line of duty deaths attributable to accidents and/or preventable events have remained unacceptably high. Every year, more officers are killed by preventable accidents than by gunfire and some years the number exceeds the total of officer homicides regardless of method. Of note is the fact that the number of deaths attributable to traffic incidents is more than 40% higher than they were last year at a time when civilian traffic deaths are trending toward new lows. A review of data indicates that many deaths are due to officer negligence or carelessness including speed too fast for conditions, inattention and/or not wearing a seat belt. A recently released NHTSA report revealed that nearly half of the officers killed in 733 fatal crashes were not wearing their seatbelts. Some officers balk at seatbelts, believing they will be unable to quickly engage if needed. In spite of significant body armor improvements and availability, many officers work in uniform patrol assignments or engage in potentially hazardous duty without wearing their body armor. Estimates from body armor experts estimate that 40% of uniformed officers in the US do not wear their body armor. Finally, there is a more general and less objective category of deaths which, on close analysis indicate some degree of recklessness, complacency or lack of preparedness. All in all, this course aims at creating emphasis on the areas in which officers have the most control and influence. After all, if it s predictable, it s preventable! The message: Wear your seatbelt, wear your vest, watch your speed, WIN and REMEMBER complacency kills. Why: These are areas where change can be effected and, to a limited degree, required. If they can become the cultural norm, there will be a corresponding benefit. How: Multi-faceted and aggressive approach, that includes, but is not limited to creating a change of culture by removing the proverbial culture of speed out of the equation, integrated training by adopting the concepts of the Below 100 philosophy into existing training topics offices are in contact with, concentrating on key change agents (FTOs, supervisors, trainers, etc.) Adopting a sense of ownership and teamwork by implementation of courageous conversation among peers. Remember, our loved ones are waiting for us back home, in one piece. Emotionally as well as physically. Be there.

2 WEAR YOUR SEATBELT. WEAR YOUR VEST. WATCH YOUR SPEED. W.I.N. What s Important Now? Remember: COMPLACENCY KILLS!

BELOW 100 CORE INSTRUCTOR TCOLE ADVANCED INSTRUCTOR & INSTRUCTOR TRAINER Antonio Zarzoza started his law enforcement career with the Hidalgo County Sheriff s Office in November 2000.

Team Leader and subsequently the SERT Instructor. Zarzoza later promoted to the position of Deputy Sheriff and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division for East Hidalgo County.

3 BELOW 100 CORE INSTRUCTOR TCOLE ADVANCED INSTRUCTOR & INSTRUCTOR TRAINER Antonio Zarzoza started his law enforcement career with the Hidalgo County Sheriff s Office in November During his time with the Sheriff s Office he served in several capacities; starting as a Detention Officer to later become part of the Special Emergencies Response Team (SERT) where he became the Team Leader and subsequently the SERT Instructor. Zarzoza later promoted to the position of Deputy Sheriff and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division for East Hidalgo County. While assigned to the Patrol Division Zarzoza was appointed as support instructor for the Hidalgo County Sheriff s Academy providing assistance in instructing all of the Use of Force, Subject Control, Defensive Tactics and Physical Skills training courses for Sheriff s Office personnel as well as other law enforcement agencies. Zarzoza served his primary assignment as a patrol deputy while assisting the training academy as a secondary assignment. In 2008 Zarzoza was appointed as a full time Instructor for the Hidalgo County Sheriff s Training Academy. As an active member and training contributor for the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association he obtained several instructor s certifications that allowed the Hidalgo County Sheriff s Office Training Academy the opportunity to become pioneers and for a long time sole providers of specialized training courses and innovative training platforms that were subsequently shared with Sheriff s personnel and other law enforcement agencies. Zarzoza instructed a variety of courses, from the Basic Peace Officer Course to other specialized and advanced training topics. He developed expertise and established his niche on the fields of Use of Force, Police Combatives, Officer Safety, Defensive Tactics, Child Abuse Investigations and Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigations. Zarzoza holds an Advanced Instructor License with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. On June 2013 Zarzoza was recruited by the University of Texas Pan American (now UTRGV) Police Department as the agency s Training Officer & Field Training Coordinator. Zarzoza designed, developed and started a fully functional and dedicated training division that caters to other Local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies. Zarzoza s most recent career highlight are his appointments as adjunct Instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the US Department of Justice, the US Department of Homeland Security and The Texas Department of Public Safety State Academy. Zarzoza has been vetted and recognized as a Subject Matter Expert and authorized as an official training provider for said agencies. Zarzoza has also contributed as an instructor for the UT System State Police Academy in Austin, TX. Zarzoza is an instructor for the Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator course (SAFVIC), the Joint CPS/Law Enforcement Advanced Child Abuse Investigator Course and the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Training (ADAPT). Zarzoza is a Core Instructor and Instructor Trainer for the Nationwide Training Initiative Below 100. Currently, Zarzoza remains as an adjunct instructor for the Hidalgo County Sheriff s Training Academy where he teaches specialized and advanced training courses for Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement professionals in the area. Zarzoza has served as an expert witness for State and Federal court in the fields of Use of Force, Defensive Tactics and Crisis Intervention for the States of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Illinois. Zarzoza has written articles that have been published by reputable police magazines/websites and professional association journals. Zarzoza is a business partner for Force Options Consulting. A private practice professional consulting and training firm for law enforcement, government, public and private sector. Zarzoza is a renowned speaker at law enforcement & public safety conferences where he presents on Officer Safety, Leadership, Police Emotional Resilience and Mental Readiness for Deadly Force Encounters. Zarzoza is also the lead K-9 trainer with Pinnacle K-9 Professional Dog Training Academy in Edinburg, TX.

4 Antonio Zarzoza s instructor certifications: Below 100 Core Instructor & Instructor Trainer. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Advanced Instructor & Instructor Trainer. (US DOJ) Public Safety De-Escalation Tactics for Military Veterans In Crisis Instructor. (US DOJ) VALOR Program Instructor. VIPER Program Instructor (Violent Intruder Preparedness Enhanced Response training). Krav Maga & Hagannah Instructor. SDS Police Combatives Master Instructor. Monadnock Defensive Tactics System Instructor. Mental Health Peace Officer & Crisis Intervention Instructor & Instructor Trainer. FTO Instructor & Instructor Trainer. Monadnock PR-24 Instructor. ASP Integrated Program Instructor (Baton-Flashlight-Handcuffing). Defensive Duty Knife Instructor. Taser Instructor. Smith Driving System Instructor. OC Pepper Spray Projector Instructor (Defense Technology Labs & SABRE). RAD Instructor. Excited Delirium/ARD Instructor. SAFVIC Instructor (Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigations). Advance Child Abuse Investigations Instructor (Joint CPS & Law Enforcement Investigations training). ADAPT Instructor (Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Training). FRIDAY Instructor (Focus on Reducing Impaired Driving Among Youth). Practical and Tactical Handcuffing Instructor & Instructor Trainer. Ground Control Tactics Instructor & Instructor Trainer. Corrections Combatives Instructor & Instructor Trainer. Corrections Emergency Response Tactics Master Instructor. ALERRT-Active Shooter Response Tactics Instructor ALERRT-Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Instructor. ALICE System Active Shooter Events Instructor SABRE Civilian Safety Awareness Instructor. Proactive Counterterrorism for Patrol Officers Instructor. Verbal Judo Sr. Instructor. LEADS Instructor (Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies). Workplace Violence Prevention and Awareness Instructor. Diversity and Ethics Instructor. Professional Association memberships: International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Texas Municipal Police Association. Texas Police Association. National Narcotic Detector Dog Association. Adjunct Instructor for the Texas DPS Academy. Adjunct Instructor for US Department of Justice VALOR Initiative. Nationwide. Adjunct Instructor for US Department of Justice PSDT-MVC Initiative. Nationwide. Adjunct Instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

5 BELOW 100: Reducing Line of Duty Deaths Instructor & Course Evaluation Form INSTRUCTOR S NAME: ANTONIO ZARZOZA DATE: COURSE TITLE: BELOW 100 [circle one] INTENSIVE / TRAIN-THE-TRAINER INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION HIGH LOW 1. Effectiveness of instructor(s) presentation Instructor(s) ability to answer questions Instructor(s) effectiveness in keeping discussions forced on relevant jobs Coverage of subject matter Suitability of instructional materials Overall rating of the instructor(s) effectiveness INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION HIGH LOW 7. Your knowledge & skill level of the course topic before the course Your knowledge & skill level of the course topic after the course What did you particularly like MOST about the course? 10. What were its strengths? 11. What area(s) of the course need improvement? 12. Was the course level appropriate for your needs? Yes No 13. What other training topics would you suggest be taught at our training facility? 14. Were the course facilities adequate? Yes No PLEASE RATE HIGH LOW 1. The overall session Clarity of session content Relevance of content to you Usefulness of handouts Quality of visual aids NAME (Optional): RANK/TITLE: AGENCY/INSTITUTION: PHONE # (Optional): address (optional): THANK YOU!

Current Trends in Officer Safety June 29, Craig W. Floyd Chairman & CEO National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Current Trends in Officer Safety June 29, 2016 Craig W. Floyd Chairman & CEO National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund PowerPoint Presentation Available at: www.lawmemorial.org/lifesavers 2 VISION