Key Biscayne, Florida, January 8, 2008    The Village of Key Biscayne Police Department hosted a S.A.F.E. Class to certify additional instructors for their team -- which to everyone's delight included Chief Charles R. Press -- anxious to deliver the program himself to the women in his community!  The Janesville (Wisconsin) Police Department added to their S.A.F.E. team (flying down to bask in the bonus of the South Florida sunshine) along with new instructors from the Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah and Atlanta campuses).  The Broward Sheriff's Office, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Miami also certified additional instructors and helped welcome new instructors from Barry University, Florida International University, Johnson & Wales University, and the Life in your Hands organization from Kissimmee.

Fort Myers, Florida, June 4, 2007    The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was host for a S.A.F.E. Class to certify additional instructors for their team, as well as new instructors from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Port St. Lucie Police Department, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of Central Florida Police Department.

Toledo, Ohio, April 11, 2007    At a S.A.F.E. Instructor Class hosted by Metroparks Toledo, the S.A.F.E. Network welcomed new instructors from Bowling Green State University Police, Metropolitan Park District/Toledo Area, Pennsylvania State University Police/University Park, Prevonse, Inc, University of Toledo Police, and the Woodlawn Police Department.

Miami, FL, December 9, 2006    Gearing up their 2007 S.A.F.E. classes on campus, the University of Miami certified six (6) additional S.A.F.E. instructors. (Terrific news!)

Providence, RI, August   21, 2006    Johnson & Wales University Safety & Security Department was host for a S.A.F.E. Class for their new instructors, as well as those from Bryant University, Foxborough Police Department, Providence College, University of Massachusetts/Lowell PD, University of Rhode Island Police, and the Wheaton College Department of Public Safety.

Burlington, VT,  July 26, 2006   New S.A.F.E. Instructors were certified at the International R.A.D. Conference representing agencies from Elizabethtown College, Florida State University Police Department, Kettering Police Department, Mt. Holyoke College, Rutland Police Department, SUNY University Police. New Paltz, Utah County Sheriff's Office, and independent instructors Debbie Guedea, Oxnard, CA, and Tina Wakefield, Wells River, VT.

Fort Wayne, IN, June 12, 2006   Indiana University – Purdue University Campus Police hosted a S.A.F.E. Class training new instructors from Anderson University, Bourbon Police, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Nashville Police Dept., Northeastern Illinois University Police Dept., Olivet Nazarene University, Rock Valley College PD, South Bend Police Dept., University of Illinois at Springfield Police, University of Southern Indiana, Westchester PD, White County Sheriff's Office.

Miami, FL, March 17, 2006   The Miami-Dade College School of Justice hosted a S.A.F.E. training class to add instructors from the City of Miami PD, FDLE, Miami Dade PD, Miami Dade College SOJ, Miami-Dade Dept. of Corrections, North Miami Beach PD, and the Port St. Lucie PD.

Providence, RI, March 9, 2006   The Rhode Island School of Design hosted a S.A.F.E. Class to train and certify instructors from the Barrington Police Dept., Brown University Dept. of Public Safety, Bryant University, Foster Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Narragansett Police Dept., Providence College Dept. of Public Safety, Providence Police Dept., RISD Dept. of Public Safety, and the South Kingstown Police Dept.

Philadelphia, PA, February 3, 2006   At the S.A.F.E. Instructor Class hosted at Temple University, the S.A.F.E. Network welcomed new instructors from Drexel University Public Safety Department, Temple University Department of Campus Safety, and the University of Pennsylvania Police Department.

Mt. Vernon, IL - Sept. 30, 2005 Sponsored by the Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Training Program (MTU15), Southwestern Illinois Mobile Team In-Service Training Unit (MTU14), and the Regional Institute for Community Policing at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 22 Instructors were trained to bring 'S.A.F.E.' to the women in their communities. Agencies included the Anna Police, Christopher Police, Clinton County Sheriff's Dept., Fairview Heights Police, Highland Police, Illinois State Police, Mt. Vernon Police, O'Fallon Police, Ruma Police, Salem Police, Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Training Program, Southern Illinois University Police Dept., Southwest Illinois Mobile Team In-Service Training, Venice Police, and Vienna Police.

Miami Beach, FL - Sept. 27, 2005 At the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference, Lt. Kelly Reid and Sgt. Paul Lupien of the Miami Beach Police Department presented Workshops for both the 'S.A.F.E.' and Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' Programs. Their energy continues to grow both programs nationwide.

Miami Beach, FL - Aug 31, 2005 The Miami Beach Police Department hosted a Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' Instructor Class for 24 trainers representing the Atlantis Police, Miami Beach Police, Surfside Police, Town of Bay Harbour Islands, and Miami-Dade Crimestoppers.

Tampa, FL - July 27, 2005 20 new S.A.F.E. Instructors were certified at the International R.A.D. Conference representing agencies from the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Central Washington University Police Dept., Medical University of SC Public Safety Dept., Messiah College Dept. of Public Safety, New Mexico State University Police Dept., Pierce Transit Safety & Training, Rice University Police Dept., The Catholic University of America DPS, Tulane University Police Dept., Univ. of Tennessee Police Dept., University of Pennsylvania, University of South Florida Police Dept., UR Your Best Defense, and Williams College Security.

Boston, MA, July 21, 2005 The University of Massachusetts at Boston hosted a S.A.F.E. Instructor Training Class adding 25 instructors to the S.A.F.E. Network from Bentley College, Clark University, MA College of Art Police, Northeast Center for Youth Families, Northeastern University, Rhode Island School of Design, Simmons College, Springfield Tech CC, Stonehill College, University of Massachusetts, Boston, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Worcester State College.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 17, 2005 The Broward Sheriff's Office hosted its third S.A.F.E. Instructor Class for an additional 13 officers from the Broward Sheriff's Office, BSO District 1 (Pembroke Park), BSO District 12 (Oakland Park), North Bay Village Police Dept., Coral Springs Police Dept., Lantana Police Dept., Medley Police Dept., Seminole Police Dept., and Tequesta Police Dept.

Westville, IN, May 16-17, 2005 Purdue University North Central hosted not one, but two S.A.F.E. Instructor Training Classes! Adding 51 instructors to the S.A.F.E. network from Arnett Health System, Auburn Police Department, Ball State University, College of Lake County, Grace College, Griffith Police Department, Hebron Police Department, Indiana Public Schools Police Dept., Indiana University/South Bend, Indiana University/Ft. Wayne, LaPorte Hospital, Joliet Jr. College, Lewis University, Lincoln Land Community College, Loyola University, Marion County Sheriff's Dept., Merrillville Police Department, Methodist Hospital, Michigan State Police, Mitchell Police Department, Moody Bible Institute, Munster Police Department, Penn State University-Altoona, Prairie State College, Purdue Calumet, Purdue North Central University, Purdue University, Transylvania University, University of Notre Dame Police, Vincennes University, and West Lafayette Police Dept.

Slippery Rock, PA, April 8, 2005 The S.A.F.E. Instructor Training Class hosted by Slippery Rock University added 26 instructors to the S.A.F.E. Network from Allegheny College, Butler City Police Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Clarion University Police, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College, Grove City College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Robert Morris University, Saint Vincent College, Slippery Rock University, University of Pittsburgh, Victim Outreach Intervention Center, and Wilkes University.

Reno, NV, March 1, 2005 The Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' TOT class sponsored by The Western Regional Community Policing Institute resulted in the training of 48 instructors representing state, local, and tribal law enforcement and stakeholders -- from Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.

Albuquerque, NM, Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' program presented at the meeting of Directors of the five-state Western Community Policing Center; resulting in Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' Instructor Training Class facilitated in Reno, NV, on March 1, 2005.

Miami, Florida, April 7, 2004 MIAMI TODAY honored the National Self-Defense Institute (NSDI) for the Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' program with a Bronze Medal at their 5th annual awards dinner event. NSDI was selected as outstanding from among a shining cluster of persons and entities honored by their peers last year for their excellence.

St. Louis, MO, July 12-16, 2004 Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' presents two workshops at the 2004 International Conference of Police Chaplains Annual Training Seminar.

Washington, DC, February 28, 2004 The Community Policing Consortium is collaborating with NSDI to promote Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' at their Homeland Security Technical Assistance events for Law Enforcement Agencies across the country with a goal of completing 80 of these events by the end of 2004.

The Community Policing Consortium is a partnership of five of the nation's leading law enforcement organizations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); the National Sheriff's association (NSA); the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF); and the Police Foundation... and is administered and funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

January 2004 - National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month In addition to the scheduled S.A.F.E. classes held at campuses and law enforcement agencies around the country, radio talk shows got the word out! Especially valuable were interviews at WISR / Butler, PA, and KAIR / Kansas City, KS, featuring Terri Harris conducting on-air segments about "90% self-defense being awareness and risk reduction."

Washington, D.C., October 13, 2003 Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' earned the 2003 Homeland Security Award in the field of Information Sharing from the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, a prestigious and independent Federal Agency that recognizes innovations and the best of American ingenuity. Chief Bill Berger, representing the Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' development team, accepted the award.

FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, August 24-29, 2003 Federal Bureau of Investigation invites Terri Harris to present Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' and participate at The Spirit of the Law Conference hosted by the FBI Behavioral Science Unit.

Tampa, FL, August 8, 2003 Be 'S.A.F.E.R' presented at Florida Public Service Association Leadership Conference.

Washington, D.C., July 28-30, 2003 Be 'S.A.F.E.R' Video Program Materials distributed to State Directors at Citizen Corps Council Conference.

Miami, Florida, July 23, 2003 United Way of Miami-Dade County hosts Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' one-hour program at 2nd Annual Employee Campaign Manager (ECM Conference).

Orlando, Florida, July 9-10, 2003 State of Florida Public Safety Education sets up 2 Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' workshops at the Florida Association for Career Technical Education (FACTE) Conference.

Washington, D.C., June 16-18, 2003 Terri Harris representing NSDI Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' at 2nd Annual National Community Policing Conference Working Together for Safer Communities.

Baltimore, Maryland / Johns Hopkins, May 13, 2003 U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Community Policing Institute (MARCPI) present Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' - a nationally recognized train-the-trainers program for public safety personnel to enable them to assist people and communities in coping with crises disasters.

How do you prepare a community to deal with disaster?
• How do you do so without causing fear and apprehension?
• How do you do so credibly, to ensure that plans are followed?
• How do you foster Neighborhood Disaster Emergency Groups?

Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' (Strategic Actions For Emergency Response) addresses these and other questions. This half-day train-the-trainers program provides a select group of personnel with the skills necessary to deliver this important curriculum. Attendees receive the tools necessary to effectively present the "Be S.A.F.E.R" program.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Community Policing Institute is a 17-agency partnership funded through a collaborative agreement with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the U.S. Department of Justice. Community policing is a philosophy that promotes and supports strategies to address and reduce crime, fear, and community concerns through problem solving tactics, quality partnerships, and more. The goal is to improve and sustain a desired quality of life for people in their neighborhoods. Community policing stresses: collaboration, prevention, traditional response tactics, and analysis as problem solving tools.

With Chief Bill Berger (Past President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) participating and with attendance by the Deputy Director and a Senior Policy Analyst of USDOJ/COPS, FEMA's Director of Citizen Corps, and Maryland's EMS/Citizen Corps Council leader among the 88 present, the launch was met with such comments, as this program is what I've been searching for since 9/11.

St. Petersburg, FL, March 10, 2003 USDOJ/COPS funds Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' Instructor Training at Florida RCPI.

Public Safety Officers from 39 agencies statewide train and receive toolkits and brochures to facilitate Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' classes for people in their communities. This Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' training event is sponsored by the Florida RCPI with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

TV Channel 10 Tampa/St. Petersburg sends a news anchor and reporter to participate in the Florida RCPI training class, interviews some officers, runs 2 different features on the program and works with local agencies to 'advertise' their classes to the public in the form of PSA's.

Orlando, Florida, February 5, 2003 Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) introduces Be 'S.A.F.E.R.'at Florida Domestic Security Oversight Board Meeting.

As Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' meets the challenge of Homeland Security related to information sharing with citizens, the FDLE invited NSDI to introduce the program at the Florida Domestic Security Oversight Board Meeting. As a result, FDLE's Regional Directors from Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee, and the Director, Div. of State Fire Marshall, inform all agencies in their regions about the program, encouraging attendance at the Florida Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) instructor class on March 10^th. As follow-up, FDLE schedules Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' presentation at the Florida Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission quarterly meeting of the Training Center Director Association, May 6^th.

Washington, D.C., January 21, 2003 Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' charts a new course through interagency cooperation:

In meetings with representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Homeland Security, FEMA, Citizen Corps, National Sheriff's Neighborhood Watch program, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Volunteers in Policing Service (VIPS) program, to assure NSDI is on the same page (albeit a different venue) to meet the challenge of Homeland Security related to information sharing with citizens in our communities, it was determined that Be 'S.A.F.E.R.', in addition to promoting the philosophy of community policing, would also be a tool to stimulate volunteerism for various agencies at local levels.

An acronym for Strategic Actions For Emergency Response and answering the big question being asked in the face of TERRORISM, "What can I do?", Be 'S.A.F.E.R. ' is a unique, proven, community-based training tool to get citizens focused on terrorism awareness and disaster/emergency preparedness.

South Florida, October 29-30, 2002 NSDI's Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' pilot flies for 2 days! Sponsored by AT&T Wireless and the AT&T Foundation, with the co-operation of the Florida Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI), the Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' program 'piloted' with 2 Instructor Training Classes on October 29 & 30, 2002. With Chief Bill Berger, Past President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) at the helm and hosted by the Miami-Dade and Broward County Chiefs of Police Associations respectively at the School of Justice, MDCC, and Institute of Public Safety, BCC), Be 'S.A.F.E.R.' garnered immediate acceptance and TV media coverage.

The positive feedback resulted in the U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding the Florida Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) Instructor Class on March 10, 2003, as well as the program's 'national launch' on May 13, 2003, with a Training of Trainers (TOT) Class at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Community Policing Institute/Johns Hopkins (which includes Washington, DC, and the Mid-Atlantic States.)