1910 Beech Ave. SE Cullman, AL. 35055 (256)734-0342

Welcome to www.cullmansheriff.org, the online home of the Cullman County Sheriff's Office.

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.

About the founder

Johnny Lee Smith

Founder of the �Equalizer� Women's Self Defense Program.

Founder of the "Strategic Self-defense and Grappling Tactics" (SSGT) Program for Law Enforcement.

Founder and President of Triad Martial Arts, Inc. which is located in Cullman.

Certified Specialized Instructor by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission

Johnny Lee Smith has certified instructors in the Equalizer Women's Self-defense Program in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

SSGT became a mandated portion of the basic curriculum for all State and Regional Law Enforcement Academies in the State of Alabama-mandated by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards In Training Commission.

Martial Arts Education

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 2nd Degree Black Belt / Kobayashi Shorin Ryu 4th Degree Black Belt /

Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan 3rd Degree Black Belt

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

To report criminal
activity call the
Secret Witness number

256-734-0210

E-mail click here

Community Programs

A Child is missing

Project Lifesaver

Senior Reassurance Program

Citizens Academy