Left to Right: Brian Landers and Jody Ward

Jody Ward (Owner, Co-Founder)

Jody Ward is a Captain with the Wisconsin Dells Police Department and a 1988 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (BS-Sociology). Jody has been in law enforcement for 19 years and has served as a drug investigator, field training officer, hostage negotiator, incident commander, and department instructor. Jody has attended state and national schools which lead to instructor certifications specializing in areas of traffic, employee policies and discipline, and incident command. Jody also has owned a successful private business for 15 years and has extensive training and experience in using computer-based training in both the public and private sector. He is the department's leading official on Information Technology and has researched several computer-based and web-based training platforms for government use. Jody knows the importance of training to increase efficiency while decreasing liability in government and corporate applications.

Brian Landers (Owner, Co-Founder)

Brian Landers is a Lieutenant with the Wisconsin Dells Police Department and also serves as the lead defensive tactics instructor for a state police academy in Madison, WI. Brian has been in law enforcement since 1992 and has served as a K-9 handler, drug unit commander, honor guard, field training officer, and evidence technician. Brian graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mount Scenario College with a major in Criminal Justice Administration and a minor in Pre-Law. Brian has over 20 instructor certifications from state and national accredited institutions and has served two appointments to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Advisory Committees (Ethics 2001-2004 & Tactical Advisory 2004- Present). Brian has assisted with the development of training, curriculum, and policies of hundreds of law enforcement agencies and has been a training consultant to various government entities.

Todd Kuschel (Owner)

Todd is a 30 year veteran of law enforcement and currently serves as a state and national instructor for Emergency Management, and instructor for the Wisconsin Technical College System. Todd retired as Assistant Chief from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department in 2005. While with UWPD, Todd served in a number of instructor roles as well as commander of their strategic planning for various University athletic events and activities. Todd is also a certified law enforcement officer with the State of Wisconsin, and also serves the State as a disaster planning strategist. Todd volunteers as a consultant to numerous community councils, outreach centers, and non-profit organizations on various social issues and coordinating assistance to the homeless population.

Ben Poller (Instructor Consultant)

Ben is a 12 year veteran of law enforcement and current special agent/narcotics investigator for a state investigative police agency. Ben started in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff for Dane County (Madison, WI). He is also appointed to a state-wide tactical response team and is Clandestine Lab Certified. Ben has numerous state and national law enforcement instructor certifications and tactical training and weapons certifications. Ben has been instructing law enforcement officers for five years and also teaches defensive tactics and drug investigations for a police academy. Ben is an expert on drug investigations, undercover techniques, firearms, defensive tactics, and tactical response.

Marc Playman (Instructor Consultant)

Marc is retired from the Columbia County (WI) Medical Examiner's Office. Marc was a police officer and investigator for the Wisconsin Dells Police Department from 1988-1998. He also served as director for the Wisconsin Dells Emergency Services Unit and the City's risk manager. Marc was elected coroner for Columbia County in 2000 and established a certified medical examiner's office within 4 years. Marc has assisted law enforcement agencies on various death investigations to include traffic accidents, suicides, and homicides. Marc also has extensive experience working with forensic investigative techniques and private investigative companies.

Dick Shold (Marketing Consultant) 

Dick retired from a local technical college after serving as Associate Dean in charge of Protective Services. Dick also works part time for Maple Bluff Police Department (WI) and has been a certified police officer in the State of Wisconsin for over 20 years. Dick served as the leading regional coordinator of training to law enforcement, emergency services, and fire departments in the south central Wisconsin area. He is widely known as a facilitator of specialized and advanced training and has coordinated training for various government entities through Wisconsin.