SEIU Texas
25 signatures reached
To: Rumaldo Abonce, Chief City Marshal, San Antonio, TX
Bailiffs Shouldn't Be Wrestling With Cage Fighters
End a program requiring San Antonio municipal court employees to submit to frightening, unsanctioned "trainings" by MMA cage fighters and trainers.
Why is this important?
My name is Melanie and I'm a bailiff for San Antonio municipal courts. I have worked in law enforcement for 32 years, so I know a little about safety protocols and the physical requirements of my job.
As law enforcement officials, we're required to meet certain physical standards. Everyone accepts this as part of the job and we try to stay in good condition. To meet these standards, we go through periodic physical trainings.
For years, San Antonio court employees have met those standards by participating in courses certified by the State Board (TCLEOSE). I've done it many times, and I've found it to be safe and effective.
That all changed a few years ago, when decisions were made to abandon the traditional state-certified courses and switch to a local mixed martial arts studio, Blue Tiger MMA.
Blue Tiger is active participation -- both defensive and offensive. The people my coworkers and I are up against are trained in mixed martial arts. We are not. Some of us are also much older and not nearly as strong. To put it another way, I'm a 59-year-old woman being placed in wrestling holds by MMA fighters. Imagine that.
As trainees, we're put in a number of holds. We wrestle with fighters, and are told to lift and move weighted punching dummies. In two sessions that I did not attend, my coworkers were paired up with cage fighters. They said those sessions were truly brutal. I’m concerned that one of us will be seriously injured if these MMA trainings continue.
There's no reason I can think of for why the city of San Antonio is paying for Blue Tiger sessions. There are no course points for the active licensed peace officers and these sessions are not taught by a certified TCOLE instructor.
I've lived in San Antonio for most of my life. I grew up here, and attended Holmes High School in the Northside. I want to do my job well and I want my taxes to be well-spent. The Blue Tiger MMA program is demeaning and a waste of taxpayer money.
Join me and my coworkers in calling on San Antonio municipal courts to immediately stop the Blue Tiger mixed martial arts “trainings” and return to state-certified courses.
As law enforcement officials, we're required to meet certain physical standards. Everyone accepts this as part of the job and we try to stay in good condition. To meet these standards, we go through periodic physical trainings.
For years, San Antonio court employees have met those standards by participating in courses certified by the State Board (TCLEOSE). I've done it many times, and I've found it to be safe and effective.
That all changed a few years ago, when decisions were made to abandon the traditional state-certified courses and switch to a local mixed martial arts studio, Blue Tiger MMA.
Blue Tiger is active participation -- both defensive and offensive. The people my coworkers and I are up against are trained in mixed martial arts. We are not. Some of us are also much older and not nearly as strong. To put it another way, I'm a 59-year-old woman being placed in wrestling holds by MMA fighters. Imagine that.
As trainees, we're put in a number of holds. We wrestle with fighters, and are told to lift and move weighted punching dummies. In two sessions that I did not attend, my coworkers were paired up with cage fighters. They said those sessions were truly brutal. I’m concerned that one of us will be seriously injured if these MMA trainings continue.
There's no reason I can think of for why the city of San Antonio is paying for Blue Tiger sessions. There are no course points for the active licensed peace officers and these sessions are not taught by a certified TCOLE instructor.
I've lived in San Antonio for most of my life. I grew up here, and attended Holmes High School in the Northside. I want to do my job well and I want my taxes to be well-spent. The Blue Tiger MMA program is demeaning and a waste of taxpayer money.
Join me and my coworkers in calling on San Antonio municipal courts to immediately stop the Blue Tiger mixed martial arts “trainings” and return to state-certified courses.
