Tony Pinelle

Anthony L. Tony Pinelle is a National Associate with the Verbal Judo Institute. He is committed to the Verbal Judo philosophy and brings to the Institute his dynamic teaching style. He is the Deputy Chief of Public Safety at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, where he is responsible for law enforcement and security operations. He has intervened in countless volatile situations involving forensic, general adult, and adolescent psychiatric patients, which has allowed him to perfect his skills in dealing with patients in institutional treatment environments and difficult people in general.

Tony is a dedicated student of the Art of Verbal Judo. Dr. George Thompson certified Tony as a Basic Verbal Judo Instructor for Police Officers in February 1997. After being certified to instruct police officers, he quickly realized that the Art of Verbal Judo was an effective tool for dealing with mentally ill individuals. He was responsible for the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo's adoption of Verbal Judo as its primary verbal communication course for all employees. Senior Verbal Judo Associate, Stephen Wopershall, certified Tony to conduct Verbal Judo courses for healthcare and mental healthcare professionals in June 1997. In September 1998, Dr. Thompson certified Tony to instruct Verbal Judo programs for correctional officers. In November 1998, Tony earned his Verbal Judo First Degree Black Belt after attending the Advanced Verbal Judo Instructor's Course in Jacksonville, Florida. He has personally trained thousands of police officers, security officers, correctional officers, educators, and psychiatric caregivers in the Verbal Judo technique.

In addition to his experience at the Mental Health Institute, Tony has been an active Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Pueblo County, Colorado since 1984. He is an accomplished Instructor at the Pueblo Area Law Enforcement Academy at the Pueblo Community College where he has developed courses approved by the Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training Board. These courses include: Investigative Note Taking, Report Writing, Crime Scene Search Techniques, Courtroom Testimony, and Verbal Judo. He is also a certified instructor for defensive tactics, pepper spray, tactical baton, and police firearms. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Instructor Development Course and the Colorado Department of Human Services Professional Instructor Program.

He has been an employee of the State of Colorado since 1976. He completed psychiatric technician training at the Colorado State Home and Training School and was licensed as a Psychiatric Technician with a developmental disabilities option. He worked seven years as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician at a State facility responsible for the care and treatment of aggressive hyperactive developmentally disabled individuals. He was a pioneer in the implementation of the first State operated residential treatment facilities for the developmentally disabled before pursuing his interests in law enforcement.

Tony joined the Department of Public Safety at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in 1983. He has served the Department in all capacities including correctional security officer, police officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and deputy chief. He is dedicated to State service and the community. He was instrumental in the creation of the Continuum of Therapeutic Intervention, which includes Verbal Judo and physical control techniques to handle the mentally ill. He was named Colorado Mental Health Institute's employee of the month for March 1995 and May 2000. He was a finalist for the Governor's Productivity Award for Peak Performance in 1997. He was awarded the Southeastern Colorado Non-uniformed Officer of the Year award in 1996 and was nominated as the Uniformed Officer of the Year in 2002. He is a member of the Colorado Law Enforcement Officer's Association and the Southeastern Colorado Law Enforcement Association (S.C.L.E.A.). He has served S.C.L.E.A. as president and treasurer.

Tony is also well known in the Pueblo Community for his efforts in promoting child safety programs. As a member of the Travelers Protective Association of America, he regularly participates in bicycle safety, fingerprinting, and child identification programs. He has served as the President of the Colorado Division of the Travelers Protective Association of America, and he received the Outstanding State President Award in 1999.

Tony is co-founder of Verbal Judo Associates of Colorado, and frequently co-presents Verbal Judo Programs with his long time friend and professional colleague, John McPhail, Ph.D.