Instructor: Ellis Amdur

Ellis Amdur’s work focuses on communication specific for first responders to calm and control people manifesting mental illness and emotional disturbance, particularly those who are exhibiting potentially dangerous behaviors. He has released eighteen profession-specific instructional books, some written with subject-matter-expert co-authors concerning communication with seriously mentally ill individuals and verbal de-escalation of aggression (www.edgeworkbooks.com) Amdur is part of an innovative collaboration between himself and Sergeant (ret.) Don Gulla, a renowned defensive tactics instructor. Through their training, which encompasses the full range of force options, from conversation, de-escalation, verbal control, and hands-on tactics from physical restraint through firearms, they prepare professional for real life encounters which are unpredictable and change from one level to another in a heartbeat. Ellis and Don’s viewpoint can be summed up as follows: one should never give up on an attempt at peaceful resolution through verbal de-escalation tactics, and at every moment, one should always be prepared to defend one’s own and others’ lives by the best tactic available.