Homer Police Department Lt. Ryan Browning (center) provides opening remarks at a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer Police Department Lt. Ryan Browning (center) provides opening remarks at a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Toss A Cop’ women’s safety class draws more than 70

The curriculum used during Saturday’s five-hour class was created by Homer Police Department Lt. Ryan Browning

More than 70 women converged on Soldotna’s All American Training Center on Saturday for a self-defense course branded by local law enforcement as “Toss A Cop.” Demand for the event, which was offered specifically to women, was high — Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek said last month that all slots were filled within 48 hours of the course being advertised.

The class brought groups together from around the Kenai Peninsula, including officers with the Kenai, Soldotna and Homer Police Departments, a representative from the Alaska State Troopers and four women from the Soldotna-based Redemption Mixed Martial Arts.

“Everybody coming together for this class is just amazing,” Meek told attendees Saturday.

The curriculum used during Saturday’s five-hour class was created by Homer Police Department Lt. Ryan Browning last year after two separate crimes against Homer women. Browning, who helped lead Saturday’s course, talked about the class’s roots in the disappearance and alleged murder of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane and a separate incident of alleged sexual assault and stalking, both in Homer.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“While these things don’t happen very often, they happen too often,” Browning said, referencing the Murnane and stalking cases.

Prior to starting one-on-one demonstrations and exercises, attendees were read passages from Gavin de Becker’s book “The Gift of Fear” and a short lecture about the benefits of situational awareness, or people being aware of what’s going on around them. Alaska State Troopers “A” Detachment North Deputy Commander Lt. Mike Zweifel praised attendees’ proactive decision to sign up for the class.

“You’re taking the right steps to be able to protect yourself if and when something happens to you,” Zweifel said.

The crowd then broke into smaller groups to practice different exercises that can be used to escape during moments of peril. As part of the first exercise, women practiced how to escape if someone is holding their wrist with one hand. Browning showed how people should yank their arm upward, with their elbow moving toward the offender’s face.

Around the room, pairs of women freed themselves from each other’s grip with assistance from instructors. The groups switched back and forth between watching new moves demonstrated by the class leaders and trying those moves out on each other.

Because demand for the class was so high, Meek said the agencies are planning to hold another class in March.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

Homer Police Department Lt. Ryan Browning (center) speaks to attendees during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer Police Department Lt. Ryan Browning (center) speaks to attendees during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek (center) speaks to attendees during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek (center) speaks to attendees during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Women take an oath at a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Women take an oath at a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek (center) speaks to attendees during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek (center) speaks to attendees during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Women learn defensive maneuvers at a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Women learn defensive maneuvers at a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek leads attendees in exercises during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek leads attendees in exercises during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek leads attendees in exercises during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek leads attendees in exercises during a “Toss A Cop” event at the All American Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Cars drive through the rain on the Warren Ames Memorial Bridge on Bridge Access Road over the swift Kenai River on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
State Parks describes Kenai Peninsula projects slated for this summer

There are 11 projects described in a press release from the State Department of Natural Resources.

Professor of Process Technology Jeffrey Laube explains equipment to Kachemak Bay Campus Director Brian Partridge at a showcase of Kenai Peninsula College’s career and technical education programs in the college’s Career and Technical Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula College showcases career programs to Board of Regents

A group of KPC students were first to speak during the full board meeting Thursday afternoon.

Orion Willis, a student of Soldotna Montessori, holds up a rainbow trout he caught during Salmon in the Classroom ice fishing at Sport Lake in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Annual ADFG student ice fishing trip stymied by warm weather

Owing to continued warm weather, the annual Salmon in the Classroom ice… Continue reading

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney speaks during a meeting of the UA Board of Regents at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Pitney: UA, KPC seeing momentum, attendance growth

The university president described KPC as “a leader of the pack” in enrollment growth at the university

University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins speaks during a meeting at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Where does this end?’: University of Alaska to strip diversity and inclusivity language from programs, policies

The board was clear during the meeting that they were responding to pressure from the federal government.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich holds a telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Screenshot from the Facebook page of U.S. Rep. Nick Begich)
Murkowski, Begich host telephone town halls to address constituent concerns

Both events were inaccessible to some, who grew frustrated at technical problems

Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Education funding bill unexpectedly advances again, nears House floor vote amid affordability concerns

HB 69 clears Finance Committee at first hearing as minority says discussions there are not worthwhile.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai accepts federal grant for police vests

The funds entirely cover the purchase of three ballistic vests this fiscal year.

Soldotna High School student Ethan Anding asks a question during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
District discusses $17M deficit at community meeting

More than 100 people gathered in the KCHS auditorium.

Most Read