Jiu-jitsu training program pondered

Would be offered to Euclid Police Department officers

The Euclid City Council’s Public Safety Committee will soon be examining the creation of a new pilot program that would reimburse Euclid police officers for receiving specialized Brazilian jiu-jitsu training in their personal time.

At the committee’s upcoming Oct. 6 meeting at Euclid City Hall, they will be hearing from certified jiu-jitsu black belts Mark Stefanac and Ron Aderhold, who operate Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Self-Defense in Willoughby, the chosen academy partner for the program.

According to City Councilman Kristian Jarosz, who put together the pilot program idea, the academy was chosen as the preferred

facility for this training because it is highly-credentialed, recognized by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and has instructors that are certified to provide training to law enforcement.

The goal of the pilot program, Jarosz explained, will be to provide officers with new de-escalation and defense techniques that are practical, effective and safe when in situations that call for them. It is intended to provide officers with additional knowledge and confidence when dealing with immediate threats.

The martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu places an emphasis on submission holds, hand-to-hand self-defense and leveraging control over one’s opponent.

“It’s a humane way to use the minimal amount of force necessary to get the suspect to comply,” Jarosz said.

If the pilot program passes through full City Council approval, it would receive $12,000 in funding for its first year from the city’s general fund, which Jarosz said should cover training reimbursement for approximately 10 to 12 officers. If the training, which will not be mandatory, garners a lot of interest and participation in its first year, there is potential that it could be expanded going forward.

Jarosz said he hopes the reimbursement program will serve as encouragement for officers to take advantage of regular training at the academy, which could be an asset to them on the job.

“You can’t ask someone to do something if you don’t give them the tools to do it — we (city council) want to give them the opportunity for this training, which is extremely practical,” Jarosz said.