Ryan Alternative Solutions Training
RAST provides law enforcement with use-of-force training and de-escalation techniques. The RAST Method© serves to improve traditional police methods during arrest and high stress encounters to achieve maximum safety for citizens while maintaining officer safety.
What We Believe
Cooperation & Respect
Both law enforcement and the community deserve to be treated with respect. Our goal is to defuse confrontation and generate cooperation with the public.
Empathy & Professionalism
Conscientiously trained officers are better equipped to respond with empathy and professionalism.
Education & Training
Skills must be practiced and routinely updated in order to maintain competency. We believe through proper education and training, law enforcement personnel make better decisions.
What we do
Law Enforcement Training
RAST training, reinforced through monitored guidance, emphasizes alternatives to traditional police use-of-force training, improving trust within the community. RAST provides hands-on training in Minimal Force, De-escalation, Less-Than-Lethal Defensive Tacticts, Weapon Retention Safety, Tactical Handcuffing, and more.
Certification Programs
In addition to training, RAST offers certification courses for law enforcement and security personnel in Minimum Force, Edged Weapons Awareness, Tactical Handcuffing, and more.
Courses & Presentations
RAST offers classroom courses in Crisis Intervention, De-escalation, Weapon Retention Safety Procedures, Tactical Awareness, and more.
Testimonial
“The New York City Police Foundation provided the funding to bring the Ryan Alternative Solutions Training to the largest police department in the United States. Working with the Ryans – and connecting officers to their innovative training – is an example of the collaborative way in which we can help safeguard the city, support police, and strengthen our communities.”
Susan L. Birnbaum, President & CEO, New York City Police Foundation
How OUR training is differnt
Created by police officers for police officers
RAST techniques were created by experienced police officers to assist fellow officers defend against standing attacks. Our techniques teach participants to control and suppress an attacker’s opportunities using reasonable force.
All of RAST techniques are executed in a standing position, moving around an assailant utilizing stand-up joint control locks, escapes against chokes, grabs and evading strikes.
A different kind of Jiu Jitsu
Our instructors train in Aiki Jiu Jitsu, a completely defensive art. Unlike other forms of Jiu Jitsu that employ ground grappling, wrestling and applying choking maneuvers to subdue a subject while on the ground, Aiki Jiu Jitsu emphasizes an early neutralization of an attack and using the force of the attackers movement against them without excessive force.
Our Team
RAST is a minority-owned and operated business that aims to bring respect and empathy to officers and the communities they serve through training and education
Our instructors are some of the most experienced and knowledgeable individuals in the industry. RAST Instructors have 20+ years experience in law-enforcement backgrounds and have real-life experience responding to critical incidents, allowing us to provide our trainees with the highest level of education.
Our Owners
Lester Ryan, Managing Partner
Academics
Lester Ryan earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Rutgers University in 1988. He graduated the police academy and holds numerous instructor certifications in defensive tactics, handcuffing, pressure point control, and use of minimum force in affecting arrests. Lester is also a certified instructor in passive restraint control, behavior management and crisis intervention.
Professional Career
Lester retired as a decorated Sergeant from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office in 2014 after serving 26 years in law-enforcement. During his career, he served as a juvenile detention officer, a detective and supervisor. Lester oversaw thousands of criminal investigations in various fields, including homicide, insurance fraud, domestic violence, document fraud, terrorism, violent crimes and corruption, internal affairs investigations and child abuse.
Lester has been training law enforcement and security personnel for over 35 years. Over the past 12 years, he has provided training and consulting services to local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. He has also trained school and hospital security personnel. Lester also holds a black belt in Japanese Aikido Jiu Jitsu, as well as multiple black belts in other training systems.
Training and Certifications
Holds Black Belts in:
– American Goju-Ryu
– Okinawan Goju-Ryu
– Okinawan Kobudo (Weapons)
– Akido Jiu Jitsu
New Mexico Institute of Technology: Instructor Responding to Terrorist Bombings
FBI: Certified Instructor in Defensive Tactics and Handcuffing
Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT), Certified Instructor
Minimum Force Control (COTA), Certified Instructor
NJ Police Training Commission, Certified Firearms Instructor
Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT): Spent 9 years as a team member
Camden County Police Academy. Edged Weapon Awareness Instructor
Dignitary Protection: Trained by the Secret Service and the Environment Protection Agency (Georgia)
Department of Homeland Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction Certification, Threat Assessment Analysis
Department of Justice: Trained in Criminal Thinking Patterns De-escalation techniques (Denver Colorado)
Office of the NJ Attorney General: Interview, Interrogation
State Police, Certified Security Officer Instructor (SORA).
Logan Ryan, Managing Partner
Logan is the Co-Founder and President of The Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation (RARF), a non-profit organization that partners with animal welfare organizations to provide promotional, educational and financial support to better the lives of pets and people nationwide.
(2009) Voted into South Jersey Coaches High School Football Hall of Fame.
Additional Programs
Active Shooter Readiness Program
RAST offers Active Shooter Readiness Programs for public & private security personnel, small and large companies, private schools, and places of worship.
Interested in this program? – Download our info sheet!
Consulting
RAST offers a variety of consulting services for law enforcement and security companies in areas of training course development and more.
Want to learn more? Contact us today!