The published Thursday, July 18,1996
==========================================
Olympics Õ96 logo

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP

Locals teach Olympic security units

By Jennifer Hall
Herald Staff Writer

Many thought Robert Fabrey faced the biggest challenge of his life years ago when, while working as a Brookfield policeman, his lungs suffered permanent smoke damage while saving a prisoner from a fire in a holding cell.

But he recently returned from what he says was the biggest challenge _ and thrill _ of his life.

Fabrey and Garry F. Bonanno, the law enforcement liaison for Winner International, trained the volunteer security forces for the Summer Olympics in ``Friendly Force.''

The two local men were at the state's sheriff's convention this week at the Radisson Hotel in Shenango Township. This is the first time for Mercer County to host the convention.

After receiving their accreditation from the Olympic Committee, the pair taught the security team to handle problems in steps from asking questions to issuing directions _ ``friendly force.''


Robert Fabrey, left, and Garry F. Bonanno model their Olympic security uniforms. The pair served as instructors to the 2,400 volunteer security personnel (Gene Paulson/Herald)


The technique teaches police to handle any encounter in steps from asking questions to issuing directions. The first step includes the decision to not to use burte force but rather ``friendly force,'' which includes reasoning with the person.

``We taught them that because not everyone speaks the same language; gestures mean a lot,'' Fabrey said. ``They had to learn to deal with people from all over the world.''

Fabrey, who continues to teach karate and holds the world's record for breaking ice blocks, taught his technique to about 2,400 security personnel for the Olympics this summer in Atlanta. Sharon native Debra Arduini, a former karate student of Fabrey's, was among the volunteers.

For the first time in Olympic history, the Security Team Program will be made up of professional law enforcement personnel who have volunteered their time to provide security at the Games. About 50 other countries are also sending personnel to assist.

Fabrey believes his combination of skill involving his friendly force program at Sharpsville's International Police Tactical Training Academy and his martial arts training put him over the top of the other applicants.

``Our training was picked because we can train with tactics where language is not a problem,'' Fabrey said.

The friendly force technique is something new for many police throughout the United States. It's especially new for some of the team from the 49 other countries.

``It was a whole new approach,'' Fabrey said. ``Some are used to using extreme force and they have now learned our ways _ our newest ways.''

Bonanno said despite some tough days of training because of the weather, the techniques were well received by all those involved in the Games and the interaction between the volunteers from each country was incredible.

Fabrey and Bonanno volunteered their time to the program and their trip was sponsored by Winner International.

The Sharon-based company also donated about 7,500 automobile anti-theft ``Clubs''and about 3,000 ``Door Clubs'' for use at the Games.

The Phase IV pepper spray, developed and marketed by Winner International, is being carried by the Atlanta Police Department and Georgia State Police at the Games. The volunteers carry no weapons.

``The theme is to make this the safest Games ever,'' Bonanno said.

Fabrey and Bonanno, who were among about 10 vendors at the sheriff's convention, were talking about the Phase IV spray and their experiences with friendly force at places, including the Olympics.

==========================================

Back to TOP // Back to Herald OLYMPICS '96 page // Back to Herald HOME page

Updated July 19, 1996