Classes

Emmett Spraktes

This is a “no nonsense” 4-hour course designed for first aid trained individuals in Probation, Adult and Juvenile Corrections, or Law Enforcement. This course is adapted from modern tactical medicine as taught to our military and special operations law enforcement personnel. Concepts covered in this course include how to address immediate life-threatening injuries such as bleeding control, airway management, tourniquets, pressure dressings, occlusive dressings, wound packing; how to properly prepare your medical gear, Good Samaritan, and other legal aspects. We teach how to treat the most encountered preventable causes of death. This is NOT a typical basic first aid class. It will address specific injuries seen with penetrating wounds and other trauma commonly encountered in catastrophic events. Attendees should be prepared to engage in practical, hands-on exercises, which will leave you far better prepared to respond and react to critical situations. (Wear comfortable clothes that could possibly get dirty).

Traci Kessler & Jill Farris

This session will provide an orientation led by BSCC Field Representatives Traci Kessler and Jill Farris, who will begin with introductions. They will then explain the BSCC’s legal authority to conduct inspections in jails, courts, and police departments. The representatives will outline the types of inspections planned for the 2025-2026 cycle and detail what agencies can expect during the policy review and onsite inspection processes. The session will also cover common areas where agencies are found noncompliant and will address current hot topics in jail operations. The presentation will conclude with a dedicated time to answer questions from the participants.

Mike Henkle

This course is two-dimensional as it covers Emotional Survival (Self Care) and personal Financial Stability for officers. The two topics are separate in themselves; however, they are also tied together as will be discussed in this course. True personal wealth is an emotional stability issue as well as a financial stability issue. We will identify signs and symptoms of emotional distress for the officer including organizational stress, define signs of secondary and vicarious trauma as it relates to staff, and identify appropriate responses to a critical incident to ensure staff emotional health is addressed. It will also include the use of agency peer counseling, Employer Assistance Programs (EAP), and health benefits (through an insurance plan).

The second dimension of the course covers financial stability and preparation for retirement for officers. Investing wisely through financial advisors or as an individual, creating a healthy and efficient personal budget, along with developing a savings plan for retirement, will be discussed. Trusts and wills, homesteading, and different types of insurance policies are also included. What are the examples of financial stability? The most common signs include having little to no debt, being able to make and stick to a budget, having a healthy amount of money in savings, and having a good credit score. Financially stable people tend to see their net worth increase year over year. Through personal discipline, this course will show how to do this.

Todd Dearmore

This four-hour tactical course provides hands-on, scenario-based training focused on officer response during ambush situations involving high-risk prisoner transports. Students will engage in dynamic drills emphasizing teamwork, communication, and tactical movement under fire.

Participants will learn how to use vehicles as cover and concealment, execute safe extraction and relocation of incarcerated persons, and apply coordinated response tactics to neutralize threats.

The course reinforces officer safety, threat recognition, and rapid decision-making in high-stress environments. By the end of training, students will demonstrate the ability to respond effectively to ambush attacks, protect team members, and maintain control of high-risk transports through disciplined, coordinated action.

Todd Dearmore

This course examines the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of law enforcement officers to intervene in cases of excessive force, misconduct, or civil rights violations. Rooted in California and federal law, it provides officers with the tools and mindset to protect lives, reduce liability, and strengthen public trust. Participants will review key case law (Graham v. Connor), state mandates under Government Code § 7286, Penal Code §§ 147, 149, and 831.5, and AB 1022. Through a mix of lecture, discussion, and scenario-based training, attendees will learn to identify barriers such as peer pressure and the “code of silence” and apply practical intervention strategies in both field and custody settings.The session concludes with a personal accountability pledge and reflection, reinforcing a culture of integrity and peer responsibility within the profession.

Brian Everett

This unique course offers training on topics not typically covered in standard training programs. Participants will learn about basic defense mechanisms against knives and sharp-edged weapons. The instructor will provide an overview of the various angles from which knife attacks can occur, followed by practical demonstrations to enhance understanding and skills. The class will conclude with a discussion focused on the essential mindset required for both law enforcement officers and potential victims during a sharp-edged weapon attack. This discussion aims to equip participants with the mental strategies necessary for effectively responding to such threats.

David Demurjian

“Use of Force in 2026” provides a comprehensive overview of the new policies and laws that will affect sworn personnel in their duties. It assesses the implications of these changes on law enforcement practices, focusing on the evolving standards and regulations governing the use of force by police officers. The review highlights the importance of understanding these policies to ensure accountability and promote public trust in law enforcement agencies.

Sgt. Robert Williams

Sgt. Robert Williams will present a class on Sureño gang activity and trends in Northern California. This class is intended to detail the role of Northern California Sureno gangs in the criminal organization of the Mexican Mafia. Specifically, the current spread of Sureno gangs throughout Northern California, new trends, gang leadership, and directives from the Mexican Mafia.

Sgt. AJ Abalos

Sgt. AJ Abalos will be presenting a class on the Nuestra Familia (NF), which will cover the following: Terms/nomenclature; history; structure/hierarchy; signs & symbols; and current trends/update. This course will also provide in-depth training pertaining to the relationship between the NF, Northern Structure (NS), and Norteños, and how all three are intertwined with respect to the NF’s hierarchy within a custody setting and in the community.

Sergeant David Rodriguez

Sergeant David Rodriguez will be presenting a class on La Verdad Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG), a Norteno OMG backed by the Nuestra Familia, which started in 2022. The class will review all La Verdad chapters, including the Idaho chapter and future chapters in California and out of State. This class is intended to detail the inception, methods of operation, criminal activities, gang terminology, trends, rivalries, alliances, tattoos, and symbols, as well as the impact that influential NF members have had on the OMG.

Lt. Chad Qualls

Lt. Chad Qualls will be presenting a class on CDCR Debrief/Proffer techniques. This class is intended to describe the CDCR Debrief/Proffer process and common interviewing techniques. CDCR’s Debrief policy will be broken down and explained in detail to include a step-by-step process for debriefing a validated STG-I affiliate. Additionally, explaining commonly utilized techniques for proffering an individual who agrees to cooperate with law enforcement.

Sergeant Kory Grigsby

I will be presenting a class on SNY/Dropout gang activities and trends, as well as an update on the ongoing war between the Two-Five and Zapatista gangs within the CDCR. The class will cover a brief history, tattoos and symbols, rules and regulations, and current trends and activities within the CDCR, as well as within the communities, of 5 of the CDCR’s most prominent SNY gangs.

Mike Henkle

This interactive course is designed to teach the leadership concepts for critical staff members. Students will learn how to assess and analyze their own personal traits and how to influence their own effectiveness as a leader. It will discuss the difference between Leadership and Management, and the current state of leadership within their agencies. This course will examine how to correctly establish authority and respect within the agency, along with setting the performance standards and expectations for staff members. Along this line, it will discuss intervention implementation and corrective actions as well. It will also cover why people manipulate and how to manage manipulation, challenging situations, and what are the Organizational Goals vs. a Personal Agenda.