Class instructor Deputy Ed Tremble (left) with the Mackinac County Sheriff's Office, watches as Deputy Jon Litzner (right) tests his skills at "taking down" an uncooperative suspect, played by Deputy Isaac Harrigan. Deputies Dustin Stempki and Brenda Montie wait their turn to practice the move during a defensive training class Tuesday, December 30. Not pictured is participant Deputy Joe Stelzer. When verbal requests are ignored and defiance is apparent, police must turn to physical means to arrest a suspect. The tactics they use are taught annually to Mackinac County sheriff deputies by Ed Tremble, who has served 11 years as a corrections deputy.

Since he attended instructor training four years ago at Kirtland Community College in Roscommon, Mr. Tremble has offered the class twice a year, the most recent Tuesday, December 30.

Learning how to be safe in defending oneself when dealing with an unruly person and physically restraining those who are disorderly are the primary goals of the class, he said.

"It basically gives the officer another tool so they can go home at night," he said.

Taking physical control of a person without hurting them is a skill included in the training.

Physical tactics taught in the class often are put to use when an officer is too close to use another non-lethal restraining tool, like a Taser stun gun.

During the day-long class, deputies learn how to restrain a person, work in partnership with each other, disarm an individual, and use hand-to-hand defense.

With mats laid out over the floor of a garage behind the county jail in St. Ignace, Mr. Tremble demonstrates the moves and gives students a chance to practice them.

"It's all a safety issue for officers," he said, "so they don't get hurt on duty."

Deputies are taught how to apply handcuffs, without assistance, to someone who is uncooperative and struggling. There are certain moves that a deputy can make to restrain someone using one hand, said Mr. Tremble, so the other hand is free to handcuff the person.

"Believe it or not," said Sheriff Scott Strait, "it is really, really difficult to control somebody or handcuff somebody, especially someone who doesn't want to be handcuffed. It's really hard to do without hurting them."

The class covers all levels of force, he said, giving the deputy tactics to handle different situations and the knowledge of when to use them. With that information, a deputy can avoid using excessive force.

"I'm teaching the levels of force," he said, "and they decide what will work best."

Police officers are required to take 40 hours of training a year, and certified corrections officers are required to take about 20 hours to retain their certification or license, said Sheriff Strait. Other classes include Taser certification, report writing, and special training in methamphetamine labs, because of the toxic chemicals involved.

Over the last several years, Sheriff Strait has sent some of the deputies to school to become trainers specializing in various disciplines like Deputy Tremble.

Taking the class Tuesday were deputies Jon Litzner, Isaac Harrigan, Dustin Stempki, Brenda Montie, and Joe Stelzer.