About the Instructors
Meet Your Instructors
We are Passionate About Providing High-quality Courses to Those Who Have Chosen Law Enforcement as Their Profession.
Ron Bayne
Course Taught: Front Line Leadership
Ron Bayne retired at the rank of Commander after 25 years with the Scottsdale Police Department in Arizona. He led one of the city’s four patrol districts. After retiring, Ron was recruited and served as the Deputy Chief of the Sedona Police Department.
Ron’s education includes Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University and in Education/Counseling/Human Relations from Northern Arizona University. Ron is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and AZ Command College.
He has served as the Area Chair in the Department of Criminal Justice & Security for multiple years at the University of Phoenix. Ron is fluent in Spanish and has taught vocational Spanish to several public safety agencies throughout the United States.
John Perez
Course Taught: Next Level Leadership
John Perez grew up in East Los Angeles and served with the Pasadena Police Department from 1985-2022. His assignments included Patrol, Field Training Coordinator, Community Relations, Internal Affairs, SWAT, Gang Enforcement, Counterterrorism, & Narcotics before serving as Chief of Police from 2018-2022. Over the years, John served as a policing instructor and mutual aid coordinator for the Los Angeles region. In 2001, immediately after the tragedy of the World Trade Center, John was appointed as the counter-terrorism liaison, developing several homeland security and safety initiatives for the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl, and other large crowd events.
In 2020, just prior to the global pandemic and social justice movement, John led the Department’s reorganization, replacing antiquated policing models with intelligence led units and problem-oriented policing models to reduce crime. John possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Behavioral Science, and a Doctoral Degree in Public Administration.
Chief Perez is currently also an FBI-LEEDA instructor teaching Supervisory Leadership, Command Leadership, and Executive Leadership courses around the United States.
Tim Plotts
Course Taught: Blue Line Leadership
Tim began his law enforcement career in 1984 with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He retired in April of 2012 as the Troop Commander of Troop B, with over 300 sworn and civilian employees in his charge. As a Troop Commander he had sole responsibility for the NCSHP’s response to events that occurred in southeastern North Carolina. Tim remains a sworn law enforcement officer with the Haywood County, NC Sheriff’s Office.
He has an Associates of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management from Montreat College. He is a graduate of the 101st session of the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, KY and Graduated from the FBI National Academy, class #242, Quantico, VA. He is a certified John Maxwell trainer, instructor, and coach. He is also certified to instruct the DISC Personality Assessment through People Keys and a certified instructor with the Arbinger Institute. He has been an FBI-LEEDA Instructor since 2011 with over 260 classes taught including all three of the Trilogy leadership courses.
Tim received the first annual William Hyatt Leadership Award from Western North Carolina University. He was selected by his peers at the University of Louisville to serve as a class officer. He also received the Meritorious Service Award from the NCSHP for service above and beyond the call of duty.
Tim has been married since 1984 to his wife Beth and they have 2 grown daughters.
Jerry Thompson
Course Taught: Blue Line Leadership
William G. Thompson Jr. (Jerry) is a retired 31-year law enforcement veteran, having served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Jerry started as a cadet dispatcher and ended up as the Northeast Ohio LCS Unit Commander.
An Ohio Peace Officers Training Instructor since 1986, providing instruction throughout Ohio. In addition, served as a schoolteacher at the Mahoning County Career Technical Center, administering the Law Enforcement and Fire Safety Programs. In addition to LAPPL PDI, Jerry provides FBI-LEEDA instruction in various topics focused on leadership. FBI-LEEDA has honored Jerry with the designation of Master Instructor because of his sustained outstanding in-class instruction and contributions to the profession.
Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. A graduate of Northwestern University Staff and Command School and currently completing a 2nd Master’s in Education. He is certified by the Institute for Motivational Live and PeopleKeys™ in Advanced Behavioral Analysis and Team and Value “DISC” Training processes. Moreover, Jerry is an Arbinger Institute’s – Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset program trainer.
Jerry, a continuous public servant, was raised in the inner-city of Youngstown, Ohio, in the early sixties and seventies by devout Christian parents who stressed hard work, common sense, personal responsibility, and respect for others. This has played heavily in his success in life and within each organization he has served.
Having the opportunity in 2019 to provide training to law enforcement and military personnel in Uganda – he declares the occasion as a Life Changing experience. Jerry believes that every individual wearing a law enforcement uniform must recognize themselves as a MASCOT for their respective organizations. He will commonly ask, how well are you doing at representing your organization?
Jerry is married to Beatrice, and they have two grown daughters and four adorable grandchildren.
Mike Zaro
Course Taught: Next Level Leadership
Mike began his law enforcement career with the Pierce County, WA, Sheriff’s Department in 1994. He worked there as a patrol deputy and detective until he left to help found the newly formed Lakewood Police Department in 2004. While at Lakewood Mike worked as a detective, sergeant, assistant chief, and chief. After 8 years as chief Mike retired in February of 2023. During Mike’s 29 year career he worked through some of the most challenging situations a law enforcement professional and a department can face. From civil unrest to line of duty deaths there isn’t much that Mike hasn’t experienced.
In addition to his department duties, Mike served on multiple boards and regional committees. He was selected for participation on the Governor’s Forensic Investigation Council, IACP’s Civilian Law Enforcement/Military Cooperation Committee, and the board of directors for Greater Lakes Mental Health, among many others.
Mike’s formal education consists of a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and Master’s of Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. He is a graduate of the 240th session of the FBINA, the 68th session the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police, and the NTOA Command school. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Tacoma Campus and Pierce College in Lakewood.
Toby Darby
Course Taught: Critical Incident Leadership
Toby Darby is a 24 year veteran with the Glendale Police Department, where he serves as a captain. Toby is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served 4 years as a law enforcement specialist. Toby was on his department’s SWAT team for 19 years and currently serves as Division Commander for the Investigative Services Division.
In addition to working SWAT, Toby has worked multiple assignments in Narcotics, including LA IMPACT and LA HIDTA. Toby has also worked as a sergeant with the US Marshals’ Regional Fugitive Task Force. Toby is one of the department’s active shooter response instructors, an instructor for a POST-approved SWAT school, and an instructor for the CATO Critical Incident Leadership class. Toby is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) and CATO’s Strategic Leadership Program. Toby holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management.
Dr. Josh Wofford Ed.D.
Course Taught: Critical Incident Leadership
Josh Wofford joined the Glendale Police Department in 2004. He is currently the lieutenant overseeing the Training Bureau, Communications Bureau, Air Support, and the SWAT Team. His past assignments as an officer include work as a sex crimes detective, robbery-homicide detective, and SWAT team member. As a sergeant, he supervised the Special Enforcement Detail, Canine Unit, and SWAT team.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA, a Master of Divinity-magna cum laude from Liberty University, and a Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University in applied leadership, learning, and organizational theory.
Edward L. Freyer
Course Taught: The Polly Klaas Case Study Lessons Learned
After serving in the US Army, Eddie joined the FBI in 1972 with assignments in Pittsburgh, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa offices. Eddie’s thirty-year career afforded him many opportunities to either participate in or lead national and international investigations. Eddie was the lead investigator of the 1993 Polly Hannah Klaas kidnapping/murder investigation in Petaluma, California.
Eddie also was a team member, team leader, and tactical Team Commander of the FBI San Francisco SWAT Team. He created and coordinated the High Sierra SWAT Team Challenge which later became the Urban Shield exercise offered by Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
Eddie retired from the FBI in 2002 after leading his specialized security team at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Eddie continued his career with numerous instructing assignments in northern California as well as corporate and private industry endeavors. In 2009, Eddie accepted a one-year deployment to Iraq as an embedded Law Enforcement Professional assisting the US Army in targeting and interrogation efforts. He also has instructed for the US State Department and DOJ before international policing audiences.
In 2011, Eddie became the Undersheriff of the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State.
In 2014, Eddie returned to California and assisted our law enforcement efforts as a senior POST consultant; retiring from CA POST in 2019. Eddie has been instructing with BATI and On-Base Leadership since October 2019. Eddie also facilitates several CA POST certified courses with ShadowBox in critical decision-making for first responders.
Jason Ames
Course Taught: TECC – Tactical Emergency Casualty Care for Law Enforcement
Jason Ames retired in 2021 from active service as a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, with over 25 years of experience in patrol, custody, investigative, and emergency operations. He still serves as a volunteer, as an EMT with the LASD Antelope Valley Search & Rescue Team, on the LASD Disaster Incident Management Team, and teaching TECC/First Aid/CPR and Active Shooter Threat courses. Jason is a CAEMS certified Emergency Medical Technician. He is a CAPOST certified Academy Instructor, and a CAPOST and AAOS ECSI certified First Aid/CPR/AED/TCC Instructor. He is certified by the Department of Homeland Security as a Basic Tactical Medical Instructor and Active Shooter Threat Instructor. He is certified as an education center coordinator and instructor by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Emergency Care & Safety Institute (AAOS ECSI). Jason is recognized by the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care as an TECC instructor, adhering to their national TECC program guidelines. He is certified by FEMA/DHS as an Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing (IRTB) and Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incident (PRSBI) awareness training instructor.
Jason is certified by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) as a Training Site Course Coordinator, Instructor, and Provider for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), Tactical Emergency Casualty Care for Law Enforcement Officers (TECC-LEO), Tactical Combat Casualty Care – All Combatants (TCCC-AC), Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Bleeding Control for the Injured (B-Con), All Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR), Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS), and Psychological Trauma in EMS Patients (PTEP) courses.
Jason is a member of the Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA). In 2020, Jason received the Centurion Award for Excellence in Training by an Instructor from the Police Officer’s Association of Los Angeles County (POALAC).