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Pre-Nonprofit Summary

Overview:

Gabriel Protocol is a law enforcement training program designed to improve officer safety, reduce use-of-force incidents, and build trust with the communities officers serve. Our approach focuses on practical, real-world control techniques derived from martial arts principles that emphasize safety, leverage, and minimal force.

We are currently in the process of forming a nonprofit organization to expand our reach across South Carolina and beyond. Our goal is to bring these vital skills to every department—especially those with limited access to advanced, hands-on training.

Mission Statement:

To equip law enforcement officers with proven, field-relevant control techniques that reduce injuries, promote officer confidence, and de-escalate confrontations—ultimately leading to safer outcomes for both officers and citizens.

What We Offer

  • Survival on the Ground

    Ground Control and Survival:
    Learn how to navigate the most vulnerable position in a physical confrontation. This focus area covers techniques to quickly regain your footing, move to a position of strength, and maintain control while minimizing your vulnerability.

    Escaping from the Ground:
    Techniques for surviving worst-case scenarios, such as being pinned at the bottom. Learn effective escapes to regain a tactical advantage.

  • Control with Confidence

    Weapon Retention and Control:
    Develop skills to manage an arrestee’s movements while ensuring the retention of your weapon. This focus area emphasizes maintaining control without escalating the "Use of Force."

    Countering Standing Chokes and Grabs:
    Master techniques to quickly escape and neutralize threats from chokes and grabs in any standing position. Focus on rapid responses to regain control and turn the situation in your favor.

  • Converting Resistance into Leverage

    Leveraging Opponent's Resistance:
    Learn to use the arrestee's body mechanics to your advantage, turning their resistance into opportunities for control. This focus on leverage allows for efficient control without relying on brute strength.

    Mastering Limb Leverage:
    Advanced techniques to convert an arrestee's limbs into powerful levers for control. The refined hammer lock system provides strategic leverage to manage resistant subjects with minimal exertion.

  • Passive Resistance Tactics

    Managing Passive Evasion:
    Techniques to handle situations where an arrestee resists without direct confrontation. Learn methods to control and secure the arrestee without escalating force, transitioning smoothly into handcuffing and ensuring a safe arrest process.

  • Standing Tactics and Apprehension Strategies

    Initial Contact and Reaction Tactics:
    Develop strategies for initiating contact and effectively responding to unexpected attacks while standing. Emphasis on maintaining composure and control in dynamic situations.

    Vehicle Extraction Techniques:
    Learn how to safely extract a subject from a vehicle using coordinated tactics and leverage.

  • Team Dynamics and Coordination

    Coordinated Officer Tactics:
    Strategies for officers working together to safely apprehend a suspect. Emphasis on teamwork and communication to maximize control and minimize risk.

  • OODA Loop

    Unleash the Power of the OODA Loop with Gabriel Protocol, the same decision-making framework that turns fighter pilots into aces:
    The Gabriel Protocol is not just a training program—it's your path to becoming an ACE in high-stress situations. The OODA Loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—was developed for fighter pilots who became ACEs by mastering rapid, effective decision-making under pressure. Now, this powerful tool gives law enforcement the advantage on the ground.

Why It Matters

  • Officers are often undertrained in real-world physical control.
  • Most use-of-force incidents escalate due to a lack of confidence or technique.
  • Gabriel Protocol fills this gap—without introducing high-risk moves or sport-based tactics.
  • We train officers in safe, court-defensible techniques that have already been approved in other state-level training systems.

Current Progress:

  • Our lead instructors have trained individual officers for over 10 years.
  • We are in discussions with city and county departments across South Carolina.
  • We are preparing to offer recurring training dates customized for each department.
  • We are an approved instructional provider for the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA), authorized to deliver certified law enforcement training.

Board of Directors

Linda Leventis-Wells
Brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in law enforcement, education, and community development. She previously served as Executive Director of the Carolinas Institute for Community Policing (CICP), helping train over 50,000 law enforcement officers and community members across North and South Carolina.

Her distinguished career includes roles as Senior Criminal Investigator for the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Deputy Psychologist and Investigator for the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, and Criminology Instructor for the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Internationally, she taught at the Saudi Arabian International School in Riyadh.

In recognition of her lifetime achievements and contributions of statewide significance, Mrs. Leventis-Wells was awarded the Order of the Palmetto—South Carolina’s highest civilian honor—by Governor Nikki Haley. The award, established in 1971, honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and lifetime achievement benefiting the state or nation. She has also been honored by the American Police Hall of Fame and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for her outstanding public service.

Her expertise in mental resilience, communication, risk reduction, and community engagement strengthens Gabriel Protocol’s mission to promote safer, smarter policing across the state.

Brandon Walford – Founder & Board Member
Black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Over 10 years of experience training law enforcement.

Timothy Simmons – Board Member & Co-Instructor
Black belt in Isshin-ryū Karate and purple belt in Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. 40+ years of martial arts experience and over a decade training officers.

Fourth Board Member – TBD
A fourth board member will be added in the future.

What We’re Asking:

  • Letters of intent or support from departments interested in training
  • Pledges from city and county officials to include us in upcoming budgets
  • Early partnerships with grant writers or community organizations
  • Private donors or sponsors to help launch our nonprofit infrastructure

Next Steps:

We believe now is the right time to act. The demand is real. The solution is here. Gabriel Protocol is ready to serve officers, protect lives, and bring a new standard of professionalism to the field.

If you’re interested in being part of this mission—before our nonprofit status is finalized—we invite you to reach out and explore how we can work together.

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