Heroes Agency Instructor Spotlight

By Heroes Intervene Team Corrections, Criminal Justice, Fire and Rescue/EMS, Healthcare, View All Feature

Sergeant Michael Ryer — Office of Internal Affairs (OIA), Allegation Investigation Unit (AIU), Southern Region, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Michael began his corrections career with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) at the Richard J. Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility as a Relief Officer in February, 2016 and joined the Office of Internal Affairs (OIA), Allegation Investigation Unit (AIU) in June of 2022. He was excited to learn about the innovative Training for Trainers (T4T) program when he first joined CDCR. He felt that “the Heroes program provided him an opportunity to increase his self-worth and value to the Department and his partners.” Since obtaining his Heroes T4T certification at RJD, he has taken every opportunity to obtain additional certifications because he discovered a love for teaching. He especially likes obtaining certifications in curricula that some may find difficult to grasp, involve sensitive topics, or, like HEROES, are completely new and have the ability to improve everyone’s quality of life.

Michael notes, “There is a culture change in Corrections and Law Enforcement in general. At a basic level, the foundational pillars of the HEROES training program echo the same attributes that span across a multitude of trainings during Annual Training.” He goes on to say that the supportive structure of the Heroes program, like “the training, quarterly newsletter, and regularly scheduled agency instructor meetings led by dedicated national instructors provide a solid platform for Heroes trainers to discuss the curriculum and share teaching (and learning) experiences that every law enforcement agency could benefit from.”

The Heroes team is thrilled to have such a dedicated and talented Agency Instructor as Sergeant Ryer. His positive energy, skillful teaching, and genuine interest in serving his community and improving the life of everyone in his orbit are admirable. We are proud to have him as a part of the Heroes program!