Westside Story – Free Defensive Firearms Classes

Story & Photo – Joseph Boyle

Back in the early 1990s I met a cool guy by the name of Deputy Dan Hacker.  He was cool then and he is cool now.  Dan, always looking for a way to be a helpful to our community, serves as a Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy.  For as long as I can remember, Deputy Hacker’s chosen assignment has been to work as a City of University Place police officer.

In todays article, I want to share just one of the things Deputy Hacker is doing to help the citizens of University Place and greater Pierce County.  Deputy Hacker teaches two classes, which are free.  The first class is titled Defensive Firearms.  The second class is titled Advanced Defensive Firearms.

While he uses community space at the police department, Dan’s classes are solely his own contribution to the citizens of Pierce County.  The classes have no direct connection to University Place Police Department or the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.  The fact that Dan is a police officer does make him highly qualified to teach you what you need to know.

All that you learn from Deputy Hacker is in the classroom setting.  Students are not involved with any actual firearms handling, nor do they spend any time at the range during this educational process.

Deputy Hacker teaches the classes at the University Place Police Department located above the University Place Library with a street address of 3609 Market Place West, Suite 201, University Place, Washington.  Another way to describe the location is 3600 Bridgeport Way W.

The classes run about two hours.

The next class dates are as follows:

• Defensive Firearms Class – September 11, 2013 / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Advanced Defensive Firearms Class – September 18, 2013 / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

To sign up for either of Deputy Hacker’s classes and to confirm details please call University Place Police Department staff member, Ms. Jennifer Hales at 253-798-3141.

Classroom work covers firearms safety, use of force law, liability, alternatives to firearm use, plus basic handgun control and manipulation.

I just finished studying Deputy Hacker’s class syllabus.  My 24 plus years of firearms training and experience instantly informs me that if you take Deputy Hacker’s class you should be the beneficiary of a useful class chocked full of information that could save your life or that of a loved one.

The information Deputy Hacker provides, teaches you how to make proper legal use of force decisions.   A bad decision could cost you your home.

Deputy Hacker’s second class, Advanced Firearms, will provide you with information related to life saving tactics should you find yourself in an armed encounter.

During my 20 plus years in law enforcement, I have interviewed many victims who made all the wrong moves while being targeted by a criminal.  The reason they did the wrong thing is because they had no knowledge or training on what they should do and say or how they should act under the stress of being victimized.

In just two to four short hours, Deputy Hacker can give you what you need to protect yourself, friends, family and property.

If you do not own or like guns, Deputy Hacker’s class is still a “must take” class for the tactical knowledge you will gain to protect yourself even if you have no gun to fight back.

My suggestion is start with the first class.  You will only be investing two hours, far less than most people spend in front of the television.  After completing the first class, you can decide if you want to follow up with the second class.

If you take Deputy Hacker’s class(s), tell him Joe Boyle sent you.