SIDNEY — Officer Robert Hurd of the Sidney Police Department (SPD) has a passion for self-defense techniques. He often uses his own time to attend various self-defense classes that are up to an hour away from Sidney to bring the knowledge back to his fellow officers at the SPD.
Though his certification recently expired, Hurd had used his Gracie Self-Defense Instructor certification to help keep his fellow officers safe in the field. Gracie Self-Defense is focused around the Brazilian jiu-jitsu style of self-defense. He is in the process of getting re-certified.
While police academies do train officers in self-defense tactics, after the academy self-defense training is minimal. Hurd has been encouraging the department to increase the requirements of self-defense training from once a year to once quarterly. Increasing self-defense training was a discussion in the SPD before the COVID-19 pandemic, however, when the pandemic hit officers were not able to participate in the close quarters combat that is required for self-defense training and the department is still returning to normal after Ohio lifted its COVID-19 social distancing policies and is hoping to increase the department’s self-defense requirements in 2023.
The lack of required or offered self-defense classes is what urged Hurd to begin his own education in jiu-jitsu and other forms of self-defense. Not only did Hurd use his personal time off to educate himself, he also encouraged others and offered lessons to his fellow officers in their time off. These extra lessons along with yearly self-defense training through the department help keep the officers of the SPD safe on duty and Hurd’s lessons give officers the advantage of knowing multiple ways to protect themselves and their partners on the job.
“The ones (officers) that take the initiative and do it (self-defense training) on their off time, my hats are off to them. It’s not easy, it’s a struggle, you’re literally getting your butt kicked for upwards of an hour at a time. It’s very humbling,” said Hurd.
The department also offers a free women’s self-defense course for the women of Sidney called GUARD UP, organized by Hurd. The self-defense classes start Oct. 22 and will be held on Oct. 22 and 29 and Nov. 5 and 12 from 6-9 p.m. GUARD UP is a 12 hour program of self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The classes are available for females ages 12 and older. According to Hurd the remaining classes for 2022 are already filled up, but there will be more GUARD UP classes starting at the beginning of 2023.
For more information, contact Hurd by calling the Sidney Police Department main desk at 937-498-2351 and asking to speak with Hurd regarding GUARD UP self-defense classes.
