Gene Petrino

ASIS International Chapter 104 Treasurer, Survival Response

Step into safety with Survival Response – where protection meets expertise. Our dedicated team is committed to safeguarding your workforce and clientele through tailored security solutions. From comprehensive Security Assessments to enlightening Workplace Violence Seminars and hands-on Active Shooter Training, we equip you with the tools to mitigate risks and save lives.

Led by a seasoned SWAT Commander (Ret.) and a SWAT Team Leader, our team brings invaluable real-world insights directly to you. With our guidance, you'll not only prepare effectively but also enhance survival prospects in critical situations.

Don't face uncertainty alone – let our proven experience fortify your defense strategy. Our programs are crafted to suit your unique requirements, with a specialized focus on small to mid-sized businesses, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions.

My interest in law enforcement developed under unusual circumstances. In 1989, while in my second year of college, I had an eagle-eye view into a situation involving a serial killer terrorizing the Gainesville area. I’ll admit – it was scary for my entire community: men, women, teenagers, children, and especially students. But what impacted me was the powerful and unified response from the various protective agencies in the area. Night after night, police officers and other first responders lined the streets, filling the community with a sense of relief that someone was always there who could help. 

A few years later, when a lead investigator from the Gainesville case showed up as a volunteer speaker at my first criminal law class, something shifted inside me. I knew that law enforcement was going to be in my future. 

I went on to build a career in criminal justice. I completed stints as a Law Enforcement Officer, a SWAT Commander, and currently, an Educator dedicated to keeping people from harm’s way. I’ve developed expertise in tactical command, security threat analysis, workplace violence, active shooter instruction, and situational awareness training throughout the years.

 Today, it’s my mission to make sure that no one feels like a victim of their circumstance. When more individuals and groups are equipped with the training, knowledge, and skills to handle threatening situations, we create a safer world for us all.

 

Education​​

  • Master of Arts, Security Management

  • American Military University

  • Bachelor of Arts, Criminology

  • University of South Florida

  • Command Officers Development

  • University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute

  • Supervisor, Command, and Executive Leadership

  • FBI LEEDA

  • Extreme Ownership Leadership Training

  • Echelon Front

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Assignments 

  • S.W.A.T. Commander

  • Street Crimes Unit Sergeant

  • Patrol Sergeant

  • Multi Agency Gang Task Force Officer

  • S.W.A.T. Operator

  • Internal Affairs (Temporary Assignment relating to Specialized Investigation)

  • Field Force Commander

  • Bike Patrol Sergeant

  • Domestic Violence Response Team

  • Road Patrol Officer

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Instructor Qualifications

Instructor Certifications:

  • CPTED Practitioner (Florida Attorney General’s Office)

  • Crime Prevention in Commercial Applications

  • Workplace Violence & Active Shooter Instructor

  • Situational Awareness Instructor Certified

  • Lone Wolf Terrorist Investigations

  • Firearms Instructor (FDLE & NRA)

  • NRA Chief Range Safety Officer

  • SWAT School Instructor

  • Stop the Bleed Instructor

  • Chemical Munitions

  • Distractive Devices

  • Chemical Aerosol

  • Impact/Less Lethal Munitions

  • Glock Armorer

  • CPR