An Introduction to the Equalizer

Every year, millions of people are victims of violence and for women it is usually at the hands of someone they know. The first, and most important, step toward changing this is educating people about how to recognize and reduce their risk of becoming victims of violence. Everyone should be "Prepared In Advance". The Cullman County Sheriff's Office offers the opportunity for citizens just like you to come and participate in training to prepare in advance to effectively resist a physical attack. This training is offered to church groups, organizations, or you may simply come and join a class.

Why Choose the Equalizer?

The Equalizer program is based partly on the SSGT Defensive Tactics program which is taught at law enforcement academies. SSGT has been proven in the field to be life saving for officers in the line of duty. If thousands of law enforcement officers can trust the training so can you.

The Equalizer Women's Self-defense Program is divided into four 4-hour Phases with Phases One & Two being the least physically demanding and Phases Three & Four being the most physically demanding. This program has been designed with the understanding that most women do not have a lot of time to spend on self-defense training and that many people are not physically able to perform certain techniques. Therefore, a participant may choose to only go through Phase One because four hours is all the time they have to spare. Likewise, a participant may choose to only go through Phases One and Two because they may not have the physical fitness level to go through Phases Three and Four. By structuring the program this way, we are able to provide training, however limited, to almost everyone.

About Our Instructors

Corporal Chad Whaley has been with the Cullman County Sheriffs Department for ten years. Corporal Whaley is a certified instructor in SSGT and the Equalizer Self-Defense Program. He has helped train police officers and deputies throughout the Cullman County area and is now assisting the public in safety awareness and women’s self-defense.

Deputy Jennifer Chaffin has been teaching women’s self-defense for the last four years. She is also a certified instructor in the Equalizer Women’s Self-Defense Program. She has a background in martial arts and has recently taught home school groups (mom’s and daughters), women realtors and also St. Bernard Prep School P.E. girls.

If you would like more information or to schedule for a class please contact the Cullman County Sheriff's Office at (256) 734-0342