About TAPPS
The TAPPS program was developed to educate women, children and the elderly about identifying, avoiding and responding to dangerous situations. Our current instructors and their backgrounds are below.
Mark Bousquet
Mark has been in the law enforcement/corrections field for approximately thirty-four years. During that time he has worked as a patrol officer and a road supervisor. His work experience also includes approximately five years as a narcotics officer and approximately ten-years as a SWAT Team member and trainer.
Mark has been actively involved in the study of the Martial Arts since 1969. His study began while he was in the military stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He currently holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Okinawan GoJuRyu, a Black Belt in TaeKwonDo, a Brown Belt in KodoKan Judo and a Black Belt in Ryu-Kyu Kempo. For the last ten years he has been studying and training in Small Circle Jiu-jitsu, Philipino Kali with a primary focus in the area of Pressure Point Tactics and mixed Martial Arts.
Some of Mark’s instructor experience includes: Lead Defensive Tactic and Officer Survival Instructor for The Indiana Department of Corrections Special Emergency Response Team; Lead Defensive Tactics Instructor for The Nasa Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy; Firearms, Defensive Tactics and Police Driving Instructor for The Brevard Community College Law Enforcement/Corrections Academy (Adjunct Instructor since 1984); Firearms, Defensive Tactics and Police Driving Instructor for Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. He has also owned and operated a business teaching Personal Protection Seminars for Law Enforcement and civilians. Mark has conducted several Personal Protection Seminars for Women, Senior Citizens and most recently a program for children eight to twelve years of age. He has taught at two International Instructor Seminars including ASLET (American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers) and ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association).
Some of Mark’s instructor certifications include Defensive Tactics, Firearms, Police Driving, Shoot House Instructor, Air Soft Instructor, Simunitions Instructor and Active Control Tactics Instructor.
Mark currently works at a local Law Enforcement Agency in Brevard County as a road officer and agency trainer.
Mark is a member of the Association for Women's Self Defense Advancement as well a member of and instructor for the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association.
Kirk Heimlich, Ph.D., LSP: Consultant and TAPPS Instructor
Kirk has been a practicing psychologist for over thirty years and holds advanced degrees in Counseling and Educational psychology. He is both State Certified and Licensed as a School Psychologist. A primary clinical focus has been crisis assessment and intervention and verbal and physical managing techniques of violent or disruptive individuals. He is the founder and Chief instructor of the D.O.V.E. (Diversion of Violent Episodes) program and a Consultant and Instructor of the T.A.P.P.S. (Tactical Application of Pressure Points Systems) training.
Ross Torquato, Senior TAPPS Instructor
Ross has fifteen years Law Enforcement experience with ten years experience on SWAT. Ross is currently the Lead Defensive Tactics Instructor for the SWAT Team and conducts the majority of training for the team.
Ross has instructed Defensive Tactics on a local level to include several law enforcement/corrections basic recruit classes as well as advanced classes in firearms and defensive tactics. He is currently an Adjunct instructor at a local Community College. Ross also has instructed on an international level, conducting training for law enforcement officers and instructors at “The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers Conference” and “The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association”.
Ross holds a 3rd Dan rank in Aikido and currently trains mixed martial arts and Jiu-jitsu. He is also the owner and Chief Instructor for “Active Control Tactics”.
Ron Smith
Ron has approximately 20 years experience in the Martial Arts. He studied Kempo, Jiu-Jitsu and Shorinji-Ryu during his extensive Martial Arts training. He holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in each of the styles above and currently studies Brazilian Jui-Jitsu.
Ron has approximately ten years Law Enforcement experience. He started in road patrol and was promoted to an Agent with the Sex Crimes Unit. Ron currently serves as a Sniper with an agency of 500 sworn officers in Florida.
Michael D Boffeli TAPPS Instructor
Mike served twenty years as a United States Marine with two combat tours, the first in 1990-1991 and the second in Iraq 2003. Mike served as the Section Leader and Chief Instructor for Female Marine Combat Training/Combat Weapons Training Instructor and is Green Belt Certified in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Mike is a Bronze Level Folkstyle Wrestling Coach, an Active Control Tactics Instructor and holds a TAPPS Instructor Certification. Additionally, Mike Boffeli has qualifications in Antiterrorism Level One and Two and Weapons of Mass Destruction for First Responders. Mike graduated from the Advanced Improvised Explosive Devices Course in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina and the Warsaw Pact Weapons Operation Course in Fort Irwin, California.
Cato Fjukstad
Cato has 14 years experience in the Norwegian private security industry, currently doing event security and close år protection. He also has 16 years experience in the Norwegian armed forces, currently doing classes in CQB.
Cato is currently the Managing Director and Chief Instructor of the Norwegian security academy Sikkerhetsakademiet AS.
Cato specialize in control tactics, and holds a 1st dan in Combat Hapkido. He is also a Master Instructor for the Talon Impact device.
Cato is a member of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, Association for Women's Self Defense Advancement and International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
Pål Mortensen
Pål has 5 years experience in the private security industry and is a trained close protection specialist. He is a student of Combat Hapkido.
Pål is currently an instructor at the Norwegian security academy, Sikkerhetsakademiet AS.
Pål is a member of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association.