Randy Linder — Instructor Profile

About Randy Linder

Randy Linder has served as a law enforcement officer for 29 years and has been a law enforcement instructor for 28 years. He began his career as a police officer in 1995, became a defensive tactics instructor in 1996, and a firearms instructor in 1997.

In 2018, Randy was appointed to lead the defensive tactics program for his regional P.O.S.T. academy. Recognizing that the existing program was inadequate, he searched for more effective training methods. His research led him to the SPEAR System®, where he was immediately drawn to Tony Blauer’s approach.

With extensive experience in violent encounters throughout his career, Randy recognized that the SPEAR System® offered the solutions he had been seeking. He attended his first SPEAR System® Instructor Certification course in 2019 in Henderson, Nevada. Since then, Randy has continued to expand his expertise by attending and hosting numerous SPEAR System® courses, including the Evidence-Based Scenario Trainer®, SPEAR Total, Control and Arrest, SPEAR Applications for the Gunfight. Randy has immersed himself in other BTS courses like SPEAR Combatives, the Human Weapon System, the BTS90 program, and the Elite Retreat.

Throughout his career, Randy has held various roles, including patrol officer, Field Training Officer, defensive tactics instructor, SWAT operator, SWAT commander, and Assistant Chief of an agency. He is also certified as an instructor in chemical weapons, RIPP restraints, handcuffing, batons, Taser, de-escalation, use of force, Field Training Officer trainer, ALERRT (active shooter), and legal aspects of law enforcement.

In his current assignment, Randy serves as the lead instructor for defensive tactics and firearms, oversees his agency’s field training program, reviews and approves all use of force incidents, and testifies in court on use of force matters. He also trains cadets at the regional POST academy and provides annual in-service training for senior officers. Additionally, Randy contributes to the development of policies and guidelines for his agency, focusing on use of force, firearms, and the handling of critical incidents.