Sgt. Brad Bellipanni

Pike Co. S.O.

May 2008

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Tony and Toby,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you both for the dynamic class you taught.  Although, a little apprehensive about taking an outside self defense class, I found it incredibly beneficial, very challenging, and not at all intimidating.  Being the only female in the class and much smaller than my partners, I received great additional tips on maintaining control of individuals larger and stronger.  In my ten years of corrections and detention self defense training; I have learned one type of training.  The Controlled F.O.R.C.E. techniques are excellent tools to have on my belt.

On Monday April 7, 2008 my partner and I instructed the first class for our department.  After a month, the M.A.C.H. holds were easily remembered and taught.  Our students were excited to learn the techniques and left the class feeling confident.  I have received great reviews from those who attended the class and have received a lot of interest from others wanting to attend.  I look forward to future classes.

Controlled F.O.R.C.E. encourages confidence through skill, knowledge, and communication.

I encourage all departments to attend a Controlled F.O.R.C.E. class and don’t forget to send your female officers. 

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I would like to thank you for the outstanding training I received attending the Instructor Certification for Levels 1 and 2 held at Lackland Air Force Base July 16-22, 2007.  This is the first time I have attended defensive tactics training where I felt I learned something that will work!  It was easy to remember and use.  I honestly believe this will be the first time my officers will receive DT instruction that they will enjoy receiving.  This is training they will be able to use.

I am sorry I could not stay for Level 3, but with other scheduled commitments I had to leave on Sunday night, but I will try to attend a Level 3 course in the future.

The instructors were great.  We started with Heath who did an outstanding job.  On Saturday morning, Don arrived and the training just continued to excel.  With the size of the class being small it allowed the instructors to give more one on one instruction.  The instruction makes sense and no matter what the situation Heath and or Don had a way to come out a winner.  Based on the tactics (M.A.C.H.s) there is nothing we cannot defeat.  I understand that no training is perfect and unbeatable but I feel this training is the best I have received and will enjoy presenting it to my officers.  This is the first time in years I am looking forward to DT training with the officers.  

My thanks to Heath and Don.  They provide outstanding instruction/training and are superb ambassadors of the company.  I am looking forward to training with them again.  

I have already recommended this class to other instructors I have spoken with.

Again, thank you for outstanding instruction!

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I would like to express my appreciation to Tony and Don for their support to Law Enforcement. The Controlled Force/ Survial Force System is a complete system from the non-violent offender to the offender totally commited to hurting or killing a Law Enforcement Officer. The system is easy to teach, learn and retain. The Controlled Force System greatly enhances the officers chance of surviving a confrontation with minimal injuries to officers and suspects. The system greatly reduces liabity for the department and officers. As a department DT Insturctor for over 15 years, I have seen the confidence of my officers greatly increase after one class. The size of the officer does not matter with this system. Tony and Don are highly motivated, knowledgeable and excellent instructors. They will give you all the support you need. I have recieved nothing but good comments about the course from fellow officers that I have trained and officers that have used it on the streets. This is real life training. If you get a chance to spend anytime or even talk to Tony or Don about the system it is well worth your time. Thanks and Stay Safe, Jim Hobbs Hurst PD, TX.

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I tip my hat to Tony and his group of instructors at controlled F.O.R.C.E. These are very professional people who obviously have put a lot of thought into the intricate details of this system. They know as we all do that as police officers you're trained first and foremost to preserve the peace. With that being said, any and all fights should be over as quickly and efficiently as possible. I have had the opportunity since 1998 to utilize this system and can tell you that once adopted this can be translated into everything you do on duty. it really works. Just ask the Suspects that have had it used on them. Thanks again Tony.

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Controlled F.O.R.C.E.
Instructor, Dave Silvas

Dear Dave,

I am writing this letter to express my appreciation for the knowledge I gained from taking your class. I have been applying the techniques I learned since I took the class several months ago. I have taught several officers within my department the techniques I learned. They have been useful in several instances for me and the officers in my department.

In one instance, during an altercation with a sanity patient, the staff of the sanity annex was unable to assist or gain control of the situation themselves. This incident happened in a small room and Controlled Force helped us to maintain control of the situation in a timely manner, without injuring the patient.

I would be happy to recommend to any other department that this class is both beneficial and useful. You and your staff of instructors are well versed in the knowledge of Controlled Force. This class would be an asset to any department.

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Dear Controlled Force Team,

I have just recently become a department instructor for Controlled Force and have already began training our staff. The feedback has been great! We have already had to use these holds in a actual situation. I have staff members coming up to me asking when is my next class- they want in. The word around here is getting out to our local law enforcement agencies and they have been stopping in to my classes to watch the training. They have been greatly impressed and are talking about setting up some training for their deputies. The training I received was hard and physical, but it was worth every minute I took, I can't think of training that I have benefited from more. Thank You Controlled Force!

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On 03132002, at approximately 11:43 PM, I was dispatched to a domestic disturbance at 1808 E. 8th. Sgt. Jerry Donals was en route to take the call and Lt. Dick Shaw and I were en route to try and locate the subject Chris Walker. Information from dispatch was that he left the residence and there was physical contact. Dispatched aired the information that Walker was driving a purple Pontiac Breeze. Information obtained stated that he was headed to his parent's residence on West 14th Avenue.

Lt. Dick Shaw was sitting on the side of the road in between Manning and Menor when I observed two vehicles approaching Menor and 14th Avenue. I alerted Shaw's attention to this and then proceeded southbound to look for Walker. After a few minutes, Shaw stated that he thought that one of the vehicles was the suspect vehicle. I immediately turned around to assist Shaw. Then Shaw stated that he lost the vehicle and did not know where it went. I saw a vehicle go southbound on Manning and was attempting to catch up with it when Shaw stated that he had the suspect vehicle and they were travelling westbound on 14th Avenue.

I caught up with Lt. Shaw, who was attempting to initiate a traffic stop on Walker on Country Club Road. Shaw and I had our lights and siren on the whole time. I used the certified radar unit in my vehicle to determine that we were following him at a speed of 59 mph. When we reached the intersection of Country Club Road and 33rd Avenue, Walker turned eastbound on 33rd Avenue.

At this time Officer Gary Bortz and Cowley County Sheriff's Deputy John VanRoyen joined the pursuit along with Lt. Shaw and myself. As we continued to try to pull Walker over, Walker would veer to the left of the centerline and was travelling in the opposite lane of traffic. I was watching as Walker forced another motorist off the road by travelling in that person's lane. As we reached the U.S. 77 and 33rd Avenue intersection, Walker turned left and was now travelling northbound on U.S. 77.

As soon as Walker turned, Lt. Shaw sped up and got in front of Walker. I sped up as well and was to the right of Walker while Bortz was behind him. We started to slow down and as soon as Walker was without a median on the left side, he performed a U-turn and was now travelling southbound on U.S. 77. Officer Bortz was in the lead, followed by Lt. Shaw and then myself.

Officer Bortz sped up and got in front of Walker. Walker tried to pass Bortz, but Bortz would not let him. I was coming up behind Walker with Lt. Shaw to the left of my vehicle. Then without warning, Walker veered to the right with a hard right hand turn that sent in wheeling in the direction of a light pole. I followed the vehicle thinking that he was going to wreck the vehicle. However, the vehicle went through the light pole and I had to evade the pole as it started to come toward my vehicle. Then Walker was able to get back onto the road and continued to travel southbound on U.S. 77.

Approaching Strotherfield Airport, Lt. Shaw was the lead vehicle, followed by Officer Bortz and then myself. Lt. Shaw immediately dispatched Winfield Emergency Medical Services because of Walkers erratic driving. As we approached the second entrance to Strotherfield, Walker tried to turn into the facility. However, there was no entrance and he continued through the ditch, a fence, and another light pole. The vehicle rolled over and spun out of control several times.

As soon as the vehicle came to a rest, Walker jumped out of the vehicle and started to run westbound. He was pursued by Deputy VanRoyen, Officer Bortz and myself. I continued to chase Walker to a building in the southwest corner of the area.

VanRoyen was to my left and I could see Walker running ahead. I drew my ASP and yelled at Walker several times to get on the ground. Walker squared up with me and I executed a strike to his left leg. At this point it appeared that he was going to the ground so I moved in to grab an arm. Walker then came up and grabbed me around the waist with his head under my arm so I could not get my arms down.

I could feel Walker at this time unsnap my duty weapon from the holster. I then could feel him try to get the weapon free. I yelled at VanRoyen that Walker was going for my gun, and to take him out. VanRoyen did not respond so I struck Walker in the arms twice and immediately dropped my hips and grabbed my weapon to keep it in the holster. I felt that it was there, so I grabbed Walker's arm and placed him in a reverse M.A.C.H. 3. I executed a takedown and placed Walker in a cuffing position.

I released enough pressure to get Walker's other hand cuffed and he squirmed out of the lock. I then followed Walker as he was trying to get up and I executed a reverse M.A.C.H. 3 again to the same arm and placed him in cuffing position. I held him there until VanRoyen helped me place the cuffs on Walker. At this time Walker stated that he was hurt and that he wanted to be let up. I told him that he was to stay on the ground because he went for my gun, and he stated it was because he wanted to die.

Officer Bortz arrived and placed Walker in leg irons and he was allowed to sit up. Winfield EMS arrived and they evaluated Walker and he was taken to William Newton Hospital to be treated. I escorted the ambulance to the Emergency Room, where I was met by Lt. Shaw. The doctor on duty, Dr. Byrd evaluated Walker and took x-rays of his injuries. It was later determined that he did not have any broken bones but had severe swelling in certain areas of his head, and neck.

While at the hospital, Walker expressed several times that he wanted to die. Cowley County Mental Health was called and they arrived to evaluate him. After the evaluation, Jeanine stated that he could be taken to the County Jail, but was to be put on suicide watch until in the morning and she would re-evaluate Walker.

Walker was taken to the County Jail and was booked under several charges, including Reckless Driving, Eluding, Aggravated Assault, and several traffic offenses. Later Walker was re-evaluated and taken to St. Joseph in Wichita.

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I was lucky enough to attend a three-day Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructors course in May. Since becoming certified as a Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructor I have gone to my department and have been instructing my fellow deputies in the use of Controlled F.O.R.C.E. tactics.

The Feedback has been outstanding! Comments such as, " This is the most practical training in D.T. I’ve ever had" and " this is stuff I know I’ll remember and use" have been said at each and every training session I’ve instructed. Our 20-year veterans and our first year rookies alike have embraced this system with enthusiasm.

It is very gratifying to be able to instruct fellow officers to a system of defensive tactics that really works.

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I would like to go on record as saying that this was one of the finest defensive tactics programs I have ever seen. I have been involved in officer survival training for police officers for over 20 years and am certified to teach many different disciplines, techniques, and systems. However, no one system has ever impressed me as much as the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. System.

Even the best system is nothing if it isn’t presented well. Motivated, knowledgeable, instructors make a training program work. Donny and Tony are all that. Their passion for the system was contagious. They were masterful at keeping the interest level high, consequently, making it possible for the students to get the most out of the training sessions. They are truly dedicated "to-shelf" instructors.

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First I want to extend a "Thank you and job well done", on behalf of the Nye County Sheriff’s Office. This is in reference to the Controlled FORCE Defensive Tactics Instructor course presented to Nevada Agencies during the first week of June 1999.

Comments received from our personnel who attended the course were very positive and enthusiastic toward the program and your staff of Instructors. These comments include the "user-friendly" method of the course, both for instructors and students and the ease of the transition from our current program to your program.

It is our intention to adopt your program as the single defensive tactics program for our agency. Additionally, our instructors teach at numerous agencies and academies throughout the State of Nevada, and we intend to introduce this program to those agencies and academies as well.

In closing, I again thank you for the time and effort expended by your staff and instructors in developing, refining and presenting this course to the Nevada Agencies and we (I) look forward to working with your company in future endeavors.

If there is anything that my agency or I can assist you with, please do not hesitate to call on us.

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In 12 years of Law enforcement, I have not attended any finer, more organized, efficient, professional and reasonably priced training course. This training was, as we say around our office, cop proof. Which basically means that even a cop can not mess it up.

An officer any size, any age, any experience level can take the course and enhance their chances of surviving a confrontation and/or affecting an arrest without enhancing the chances of personal injury or civil injury. For me, it fills in some blanks that Ive worried about for years. How do we, law enforcement officers, cover all the bases? How do we protect the public, maintain personal safety and credibility, and keep our administrators, commanders, attorneys and politicians happy? Well, now we can. We can subdue criminals effectively without major injury to them or us. We can, even if were smaller, less experienced officers or women, take down any bad guy with confidence, speed and control. I can do my job and lessen the severity of civil litigation or damaged political reputation. I know I seem pretty fired up. Well, thats because I firmly believe everything I wrote above. I was put into a position, few nights ago, with a local drug dealer that could have resulted in everything mentioned above going bad. I wont go into the story but suffice to say in a matter of seconds, (MACH1 to MACH2 then unintentionally slipping into MACH4 ), I was able to take down a would be attacker attempting to discredit me in front of a group of his associates. There is some history here and I have gone on long enough. I just wanted to say Thanks! Your program passed the real test.

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