Background Information

Pat Collins, founder of Stay Safe Tactics, is a recently retired 31-year Chicago Police veteran. He has worked patrol cars on the South and West sides of Chicago, Mass Transit Unit, Mounted Police Unit and as a Physical Skills Instructor at the Chicago Police Academy. He was also one of the first members of Chicago's Hostage Barricade Team formed in the mid-70's. In 1987 Pat was assigned to the Chicago Police Academy as a firearms instructor and later as a Physical Trainer \ Defensive Tactics Instructor responsible for having trained more than 9,000 recruits and In-Service police personnel. Off duty Pat has also helped train probation officers, hospital and private security companies and mounted patrol security. He has conducted personal safety seminars for various organizations and was part of Princess Diana's personal security team during her stay at Chicago's Drake Hotel in 1997.

Pat first became involved in the martial arts when he joined the Chicago Judo and Karate Center in 1965 and studied under Al Gene Caraulia, the First World Karate Champion. Later in the early 80's, Pat met and trained under 5th Degree Black Belt John Sullivan, a Chicago Firefighter and good friend. John trained Pat along with other off-duty Chicago Police Officers in an eclectic mix of Ed Parker's Kenpo, JKD, and Kali\Escrima. During his time at the Academy as an instructor, Pat also became certified in Krav Maga, the Police Safety System (system adopted by the Chicago Police Department), FBI Control Tactics, and Tony Blauer's S.P.E.A.R. System.

In the Army he was a Military Policeman assigned to the 118th Military Police Company, 18th Airborne Corps. (Yes, he jumped out of "perfectly good airplanes") at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Pat's professional memberships include the American Women's Self-Defense Association, International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association and the Federation of Police. He is also a certified Agent with the Kid-Safe Network.