Our Instructors
Sheriff
Bill Franklin
Chief Deputy & Instructor
Jeremy H. Amerson
I began my career at the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer in 1998 and graduated the Alabama Police academy in 1999 before I began working as a Deputy Sheriff. I was one of the original seven deputies to form the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit in 2000 and later served dual roles as a sniper and operator and served as an Assistant Team Leader, Team Leader, and now as the Commander. I have had the privilege of being an operator and leader of countless missions ranging from search warrants, barricaded gunman, hostage rescues, etc. and began teaching Basic Tactical Operator Courses in 2005 alongside Major Zeigler. We officially formed “Forged” in 2017. I have been humbled to teach courses including but not limited to Advanced Operator, Sniper, Tactical Shooting, Hostage Rescue, Bus Assault, and VIP Protection throughout my profession and have been blessed to receive numerous tactical certifications during my law enforcement tenure.
My path in law enforcement has taken me through the ranks from Sergeant to my current position as Chief Deputy. I have had the honor of serving under great supervisors in each division including the Jail, Patrol, Investigations, Narcotics, and now Administrative and personally served as a supervisor in the latter four divisions. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2006 and my Master of Public Administration in 2009. It is with great humility that I accept the responsibility to train officers each year, knowing the training they receive could one day save their life or the life of another.
“The brave, knowing what danger is before them; nevertheless go out to meet it.”- Thucydides
Major & Instructor
Chris C. Zeigler
I started my career in Law Enforcement with the Montgomery Police Department in 1995. In February 2000 I left MPD and started working with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office; by August I was part of the seven deputies that formed our Special Operations Unit. From 2001 until 2012 I served as Commander of the Unit. In 2006 I became a certified APOST SWAT Instructor and have had the privilege to conduct many training courses including service as the Vice President of the Alabama Tactical Officers Association from 2008 to 2010.
Through the years I have been blessed to be trained by U.S. and Israeli Special Forces, and through several Explosive Breeching and Hostage Rescue TEES courses which I strive to pass on to others through the courses I teach. In 2017 I was asked to help form “Forged”. The cadre of Forged are solid people with great experience and drive who do a great job of pouring their knowledge and experience into their students. I consider it an honor to be part of Forged and I believe it is one of the best courses available.
“We should remember that one man is as much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school”. - Thucydides
That quote was true then and true today!
Patrol Captain & Instructor
David E. Slay
I began my law enforcement career in 2003, after serving 4 years active duty in the United Sates Army, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. I’ve served the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office in just about every capacity including Corrections Officer, Patrol Deputy, Drug Task Force Agent, Investigations and now as the dayshift Patrol Captain. I’ve served on the Special Operations Unit since 2005 and have been assigned as the team leader since 2012.
In 2017 I was selected as one of the original instructors to teach the Basic Tactical Operator Course of Forged CQB. We have since added Advanced Tactical Operator Course, Basic Sniper School, Advanced Sniper School, Master CQB Operator, Tac Med Instructor Course, and Handgun/Rifle/Tactical School. It’s both an honor and a privilege to train the younger generation of law enforcement the tactics needed to serve and protect the citizens of today and tomorrow!
Narcotics Captain & Instructor
Rick Brouillard
I have over 19 years of law enforcement experience including Corrections Officer, Patrol Deputy, Investigator, and currently as a Captain with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force.
I hold certifications in Advanced SWAT and Explosive Breaching and as a SWAT and Firearms Instructor.
I believe in teaching “a way” not “the way”.
Lieutenant & Instructor
James Talley
I am a 22-year law enforcement veteran and currently a Lieutenant with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office where I have served in the Corrections, Patrol, Investigative and Narcotics Divisions. I am certified as a firearms and Basic Tactical Operator Course (BTOC) instructor and have served on Elmore County’s Special Operations Unit twice for a total of 14 years.
I have responded to numerous search warrants, high risk arrest warrants, and barricaded gunman incidents with Elmore County and surrounding agencies as well as ALEA, ADOC, FBI, DEA, IRS, and Secret Service.
Narcotics Sergeant & Instructor
A.J. Carr
I began my law enforcement career with Chilton County Sheriff's Office where I was assigned to the Corrections, Patrol, & Special Operations Divisions. I had the privilege of being recruited by Chief Amerson after graduating from the original FORGED CQB school and accepted a position with the Elmore County Sheriff's Office. I am currently assigned to the Task Force Division and serve as Sniper Team Leader and Explosive Breacher for the Special Operations Unit.
I am an APOSTC BTOC Instructor with certifications/experience in course of instruction relevant to Basic & Advanced SWAT; Basic & Advanced Sniper; TCCC; APOSTC Firearms Instructor; Red Dot Instructor; OTAC Combatives; Weapon Disarmament.
"How you do anything is how you do everything."
Narcotics Sergeant & Instructor
Parker A. Crosby
I began my law enforcement career in 2005 with the Millbrook Police Department where I was assigned to Patrol, Investigations and Special Operations Divisions. In October 2010 I was hired by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and assigned to the Elmore County Drug Task Force and the Special Operations Unit, where I am now an Assistant Team Leader. In November of 2020 I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to Night Shift A patrol as the shift supervisor. In June of 2022 I was re-assigned to the Drug Task Force.
During my time in law enforcement, I have conducted operations to include Barricaded Gunman, Hostage Rescue, Search Warrants, High-Risk Warrant Service, & Protective Security Details alongside personnel from local law enforcement SWAT teams, the FBI, DEA, US Marshals, Secret Service, Homeland Security, ALEA, & ADOC in various roles to include assaulter, sniper & breacher. I have had the opportunity to receive numerous courses of instruction/certifications relevant to law enforcement operations to include but not limited to Basic/Advanced SWAT, Basic Sniper, Advanced CQB, T.E.E.S. Explosive Breacher, Heli-Borne Operations, Firearms Instructor, O.T.A.C. Instructor, APOST B.T.O.C. Instructor, Less Lethal Instructor & 4 years of experience in Brazilian Jiujitsu.
I have been fortunate to be involved with FORGED CQB since its inception in 2017 and as instructors we hold a high standard to ensure that each student that graduates can go back to his/her department and “Be an Asset, Not A Liability”.
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” -Heraclitus-
Patrol Sergeant & Instructor
Benjamin Colley
I began my career in December of 2012 with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office where I was hired on as a corrections officer. Within a few years of my initial employment, I was selected to attend a law enforcement academy which I completed May of 2015. I was then assigned to the patrol division and approximately one year later I applied and was selected to join the Elmore County Special Operations Unit where I still act as a current member. Through my time as a member of the SOU team I’ve assisted in numerous high-risk operations including but not limited to search warrants and high-risk arrest warrants.
In the following years, I attended and graduated from the first Forged Basic and Advanced CQB Schools receiving the title as an official Operator. In 2020, I was selected to join the Elmore County Drug Task Force/Warrant Division where we executed narcotic search warrants and other high-risk warrants on a regular basis. In 2022, I became an APOST Certified OTAC (Officer Tactical Awareness Combat) Instructor which teaches officers hand to hand tactics and techniques needed to ensure the safety and security of the officer and arrestee. Most recently I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and received my Instructor status for the Forged Basic CQB School.
Throughout my career I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by and learn from the best this profession has to offer. I look forward to the opportunity to pass along the same instruction I’ve received to others for years to come.
State Police & Instructor
Stephen Sims
My career in Law Enforcement started in 2003 with the Montgomery Police Department where I served for six and a half years and was assigned to the Patrol and Detective Divisions. During my time in Patrol at Montgomery I was promoted to the rank of Corporal and assigned to the Crime Reduction Team Bureau, known by many as “Jump Street”. Later I served a year and a half with the Wetumpka Police Department and was assigned to the Patrol and Investigative Divisions before transferring to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office in 2010. At Elmore County, Sheriff Franklin allowed me to pursue my goals in law enforcement that I had set in 2003, which was to become a SWAT Operator and Narcotics Investigator. Major Zeigler had a large influence in that decision and pushed me to points I never thought possible in the gym, on the range, in every training, and on every mission.
During my career with Elmore County I was assigned to the Patrol Division, Investigative Division, the Central Alabama Drug Task Force, the Special Operations Unit, and as a Task Force Officer with the US Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Middle District. I am a certified Instructor in ALERRT Level 1, ALERRT ERASE, and most recently OTAC (Officer Tactical Awareness Combative Course).
As a member of the Elmore County Special Operations Unit, I served as an Operator, Sniper, Assistant Team Leader, and Sniper Team Leader. I have been an Instructor with Forged since 2017.
“You’re either SWAT, or you’re not.” - Todd Brooks
State Police & Instructor
Anthony Gipson
I began my civilian tactical career in 2007 with the Alabama Department of Corrections Correctional Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T). I was a C.E.R.T. member as the state's primary sniper until 2012 when I transitioned over to the State Training Division. While I was assigned to training, I held APOST instructor certifications for Firearms, SSGT, Chemical Agents, and General Subjects. I remained in the Training Division until 2017, when I was placed on the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force (TF). While on the TF, I acted as Assistant Team Leader and Team Leader, and I was the tactical advisor and tactical trainer for the TF. In 2018, I was asked to become an APOSTC Tactical Instructor; I began teaching Basic, Advanced, and Master SWAT schools, Basic and Advanced Sniper School, TacMed, and am a Red Dot Instructor for Forged CQB located at the Elmore County Sherriff’s Office. In 2020, I was appointed as the SWAT Commander for my state agency.
I have also served 18 years in the Alabama National Guard, all of which have been with the 20th Special Forces Group (A). I serve as the Detachment Sergeant for the Recon Detachment and as a Jumpmaster Instructor.
Pastor & Instructor
John Episcopo
I have trained and taught martial arts for over 30 years with black belts in Brazilian Juijitsu and Taekwondo and have worked closely with highly decorated deputies to produce a curriculum that is tailor made for law enforcement. These less-than-lethal techniques are efficient, easy to learn options for taking a subject down and placing them into custody as safely as possible. I have been the hand-to-hand combat instructor for the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office Task Force and CQB School for the past four years.
OTAC (Officer Tactical Awareness Course) contains modules not only for self defense for the officer, but also situational awareness, gun retention, and weapons defense with separate courses for corrections and firearm training.
I have also served as Pastor of Mountain Creek Baptist Church for the past nine years.