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1st Sgt. Richard (Rick) D. Benson, Ret.

EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES:

  • Retired 1st Sgt. from the Linn County Sheriff's Office where he served as the Training Officer
    with over 30 years experience

  • Currently a full time Senior Firearms Instructor at DPSST (The Oregon Police Academy)
    & DPSST White Range - RangeMaster

  • Retired SWAT Team Member for a dual County SWAT Team -
    Assigned as a Scout/Sniper

  • SWAT Gold Wings for successful completion of over 50+ Mission

  • Full Time Senior Firearms Instructor &
    Director of Law Enforcement & Military Training at Oregon Firearms Academy LLC

  • Recipient of a Purple Heart for being injured in the line of duty when arresting an armed suspect

  • SWAT Officer of the Year - 2005


1st Sgt Rick Benson, Ret.

Rick started out with the Sheriff's Office as a Reserve Deputy. Once he was brought onto full time employment he was promoted through the ranks to First Sergeant to his position as Training Sergeant when he retired after 30 years of Law Enforcement. Rick was awarded a Purple Heart for being injured in the line of duty while arresting a man welding a revolver. Rick is now devoting 80 hours per month as a Senior Firearms Instructor for the Department of Public Safety Standards & Training (DPSST) Police Academy. The remainder of his time he works at Oregon Firearms Academy running our Law Enforcement Training Division and Private Tutoring Programs. Rick is still on Reserve status and is assigned to a Dual County SWAT Team as a Scout/Sniper.

When Rick was still employed at the Sheriff's Office he was responsible for recruitment, training and head Firearms Instructor for the entire agency. Rick has obtained an Associates of Science Degree in both Law Enforcement and Corrections. He achieved his Police/Corrections Management Certification and has obtained 3750+ hours of police related training.

Rick has been an active Firearms Instructor for the past 17 years, both with the Sheriff's Office and as Senior Firearms Instructor with the Oregon Police Academy in Monmouth. Rick has instructed both police and corrections recruits and newly assigned firearms instructors. When Rick was with the Sheriff's Office full time he was a member of the Sheriff's Office Firearms Committee, which implemented a semiautomatic pistol transition course and was instrumental in revising the Sheriff's Office firearms policy. Rick volunteers as an instructor with the American Legion Post (Albany) youth air rifle marksmanship program.

Rick has been a member of the Sheriff's Office Firearms Team for 17 years shooting PPC, IPSC, three gun tactical, pistol, defensive shotgun, semi auto carbine, and tactical rifle. Rick has participated for 11 years in the SOF World Championship Three Gun Tactical Matches and has placed in the top percentile of his classification. Rick has participated the past 7 years as a member of the Oregon Firearms Academy Firearms Team.


Sgt. Benson presenting a demo
in a School Circle

MILITARY EXPERIENCE:

1970-1990
Oregon Army National Guard 20 years service
Retired, Sergeant First Class (E-7)

CREDENTIALS:


Giving Range Commands using
OFA's Anchor Audio Wireless PA System
DPSST Less Lethal Instructor
NRA Certified Police Firearms Instructor
DPSST Certified Police Firearms Instructor
DPSST Private Security Firearms Instructor
DTI (John Farnam) Certified Affliated Instructor
Thunder Ranch Inc. (Oregon) & ITC Inc. (Clint Smith) Adjunct Instructor
Oregon DPSST - HR218 LEO Firearms Instructor
DK Wildlife Staff
Certified Consim Instructor
Certified ORPAT Instructor - DPSST
Certified Building Search Instructor - DPSST
LINN BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR FOR ARMED SECURITY PROFESSIONALS
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR
OPOA MARKSMANSHIP CHAIRMAN 1991-1993
OPOA TRAINING CHAIRMAN 1992-1993
POLICE ACADEMY FIREARMS CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE 1996
POLICE ACADEMY RANGE ADVISORY TEAM 1997-PRESENT
OREGON ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
FIREARMS TRAINING SUB-COMMITTEE 1998-PRESENT


Rick answering Questions in a School Circle

TRAINING COURSES:
Tactical Sub-Machinegun Skill Development- Tactical Group Research Associates- 2005 - 8 hours
Instructor Development Handgun - Thunder Ranch® Oregon - Class #14 - 2005 - 24 hours
Superior Firearms Training on a Budget - Action Target - April 19, 2005
Instructor Development Urban Rifle - Thunder Ranch® Oregon - Class #5 - 2005 - 24 hours
DTI (John Farnam) Intermediate/Advanced Defensive Handgun Course - 2004
Unarmed Confrontational Simulation (Consim) Instructor's Course
Range 2000 Certification
Tactical Handgun with Clint Smith (ITC) 16 hours
Oregon State Police Sniper School with Chuck Mawhinney - 40 hours
Action Target - Range Development & Use - 24 hrs FARM in Utah
Defensive Handgun, Carbine, & Shotgun -- Gunsite - 40 hours
Urban Rifle -- Thunder Ranch-Mountain Home, TX - Class #292 40 hours
Defense Technology - OC Aerosol Projectors
Defense Technology - Chemical Munitions
Defense Technology - Specialty Impact Munitions
Defense Technology - Distraction Devices
Oregon State Police - SWAT School
Active Shooters Course
DTI (John Farnam) Rifle/Shotgun Instructor Course (Qualified as Instructor)
Front Sight Sub-Machine Gun Course
International Training Consultants Inc. (Clint Smith) Defensive Shotgun/Subdued Light/Tactical Handgun/Urban Rifle/Concealed Handgun/Vehicle Defense/Defensive Handgun
Team Tactics Thunder Ranch (Clint Smith)
DTI (John Farnam) Certified Affiliate Instructor (Handgun, Rifle, & Shotgun)
DTI (John Farnam) Advanced Defensive Handgun Course
(Qualified with a Gold Pin -- highest level)
DTI (John Farnam) Advanced Defensive Handgun Instructor Course
(Qualified with a Gold Pin -- highest level)
Rifle/Carbine Instructor Course
NRA Police Firearms Instructor Development Course
FBI Basic SWAT School
FBI Observer Sniper School
Santa Rosa Training Center Survival Instructor School
Santa Rosa Training Center Double Action Semi Auto Pistol Course
Department of Corrections Firearms Instructor Course
DPSST Rifle - Carbine Course
DPSST Firearms Training Simulator
FATS and Firearms Confrontational Simulation (Consim) Instructors Course
Clackamas County Advance Rifle Sniper Observer School
West Linn Police Dept. Semi Auto Pistol Course
Linn County Sheriff's Office/Albany Police Department Firearms Instructors Course
Linn County Sheriff's Office Semi Auto Pistol Academy
Action Target Systems Range Management for the 90's
CCI/SPEER Gold Dot Ammunition Ballistic Demonstration
MGM Pneutronic Target System
Glock Armorer Course
Glock Instructors Course
Glock Defensive Handgun Course
Washington State Criminal Justice Police Firearms Instructor Course
Less Lethal
Instructor Development Course
Instructional Techniques
Training Manager Class
Managing Cultural Diversity
Sexual Harassment
Eliminating Job Harassment in the Workplace
Association & Memberships
National Rifle Association
Glock Shooting Sports Foundation (GSSF)
Oregon Peace Officers Association
Member of Central Oregon Shooting Sports Assocation
Oregon Police Firearms Instructors Association

24hr Phone Message Center: 541-451-5532
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