KJU: What is it that you do?

Tim: I am a Minneapolis Police Officer.

KJU: How long have you been on the force?

Tim: 11 years.

KJU: What got you interested?

Tim: It was a field that I always wanted to work in .

KJU: What sort of requirments does it take?

Tim: At least a 2 year degree in Law Enforcement.

KJU: What sort of basic training is required?

Tim: Physical fitness, understanding of Minnesota state law and criminal procedure, firearms training, driving and basic defensive tactics.

KJU: What sort of basic hand-to-hand training is required?

Tim: Very basic escort holds, come-alongs, and weapon retention.

KJU: Give an example or time you needed to use your hand-to-hand or knife training?

Tim: Taking a domestic assault suspect into custody.

KJU: What was/is your most "intense" moments on the job?

Tim: Car chases I would consider to be one of the most intense situations I have encountered, because of the fear of being in a bad squad-car accident.

KJU: What sort of non-leathal equipment/weapondry do you use?

Tim: Mace and shot gun bean bag rounds.

KJU: How often does your hand-to-hand training come into play?

Tim: Anytime I have to put my hands on an uncooperative person, which averages out to be once a shift.

KJU: What martial systems have you studied? Are these discipline(s) required for your job?

Tim: Korean Tae Kwon Do and Kali. There is no martial arts requirement to be a police officer, although it has proven useful for me.

KJU: Does everyone in your unit/squad have a martial arts background?

Tim: No, but there are a large number of officers who do train in some type of martial art.

KJU: Which martial art category/categories would be best suited for your line of work?

Tim: Grappling, trapping, boxing (panantukan), kicking (muay thai, savate), knife-work, stick-work, marksmanship. I think Panantukan is one of the best categories for all around fighting when it comes to my line of work. Grappling should also be something that is taught to officers.

KJU: If you could change your training what would you implement for rookies to learn...and to what skill level?

Tim: I would implement panantukan, thai-boxing, grappling, and knife-work as a daily part of physical training.

KJU: What sort of psychological makeup is best suited for your line of work?

Tim: I think in this line of work that you need to be strong and confident individual. This job is very difficult and can be very hard on a person mentally.

KJU: Are there any women that have done what you do? If not why? Do you think women have what it takes physically or psychologically to do what you do.

Tim: There are a lot of good woman police officers in our department. Not all women are physically capable of doing what a man can do, but women officers sometimes bring different perspectives into situations where force can be avoided.

KJU: What sort of calestenics or training regimen would you recomened or that you use to get into shape for your line of work?

Tim: Good cardiovascular condition is very important also some type of resistance training is recommended to help off set the amount of weight that you carry on your gun belt.

KJU: How do you think what you do has changed from the past?

Tim: Education has been the key. In the past, all a person needed was a high school diploma to get hired, now departments are requiring officers to have at least a 2 year degree in law enforcement. The trend now is that a four year degree is encouraged in the hiring process. Many officers have returned to school to further their education with four year degrees and various masters programs.

KJU: How much of your training/tactics are military related or modified and how much of what some of the military-types use is law-enforecment related or modified. Why is that?

Tim: Law Enforcement in general is not military related. The tactical side of the job has many similarities to the military. Both tactical policing and the military have much to learn from each other.

KJU: What are your martial/career related goals? And what words of encouragement would you say to a lay-person interested in entering a career in law-enforecement?

Tim: I want to continue training to reach higher levels in edge weapons and the empty hand area of Kali. I look forward to teaching high speed tactics such as shooting on the move, close quarter battle techniques to other SWAT teams.