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THE
TEAM
S.T.A.R.T. Program Developers
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“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
– Henry Ford
John Zippay
Vice President of Levine Security Solutions, S.T.A.R.T. Program Coordinator, and Police Officer in Northeast Ohio.
John Zippay currently is a full-time Police Officer in Northeast Ohio. John Zippay co-founded the S.T.A.R.T. (School Transportation Active-Threat Response Training) program in 2015 and is currently the Program Coordinator. John has specialized training in Emergency Operations Plan Development through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and is certified in Emergency Management through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). John is an active member of the Valley Enforcement regional drone response unit. John is a member of the Ohio School Resource Association, certified in accident reconstruction, and is a certified Crisis Intervention Team member. John has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Toledo. John is the co-founder and board member of Mission 440.
Kevin Spackman
Director of Operations for Levine Security Solutions, and Police Officer with the Village of South Russell.
Kevin currently serves as a full time police officer and detective in Northeast Ohio. Kevin works closely with the community by coordinating many community relations and safety programs. Kevin is a member of the Valley Enforcement Group Hostage Negation team and is a certified Crisis Intervention team member. Kevin has a BS - Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati BA - Psychology, University of Cincinnati Graduate. Kevin is also a proud St. Edward High School (Lakewood, OH). Kevin is an avid Cleveland sports fan. He Lives with wife, Olivia, and a beagle-mix dog named Savage. He is also an advocate for cryotherapy and cold plunges.
Todd Dietzel
Lead S.T.A.R.T. Active-Threat Instructor and Police Officer in Northeast Ohio.
Todd is a full time Police Officer in Northeast Ohio with 31 years of Law Enforcement experience. Todd served 19 Years with the SWAT Team as a member on a multijurisdictional team (Operator, Team Leader, Assistant Commander) -Patrol Officer Response to Active Threat Instructor (multiple officer & solo officer response) -Rescue Task Force (RTF) Instructor -School / Student response to active killer Instructor. Todd is a Cleveland Professional Sports fan, especially Browns & Guardians, a Big 80's alternative music fan, and enjoys watching and traveling to his daughter's sports interest.
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Greg Truhan
Lead S.T.A.R.T. Juvenile Behavioral Intelligence Instructor and Senior Special Agent, United States Secret Service (retired)
Greg served the United States Secret Service as a Protective Intelligence Coordinator and Threat Assessment Investigator. Greg has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University. After the terrorist attacks on 09/11/2001, Greg was assigned to the World Trade Center Recovery Operation, working at Ground Zero in New York City. He was certified for treatment by the World Trade Center Health Program after his 2006 testicular cancer (seminoma) diagnosis was determined to be a proximate cause of exposure to toxins at the site.
Todd Hanley
Lead S.T.A.R.T. Active-Threat Instructor and Police Officer in Northeast Ohio.
Todd is currently a Police Detective in Northeast Ohio with a specialized role as Deputy Commander of their Narcotics Unit. His past roles have included SWAT team member (OTOA certified), Less Lethal instructor, Special Investigative Unit Detective, Training Officer and Junior Law Post Explorer instructor. Todd has a Bachelor Degree in Criminology from The Ohio State University where he continues to assist as a mentor for students in their Sociology Department Mentorship Program. Lastly, Todd enjoys family time, Ohio Sports, golfing, hunting and fishing.
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Nick Kline
Lead S.T.A.R.T. Active-Threat Instructor and Police Officer in Northeast Ohio.
Nick currently is a police officer with 20+ years experience working as patrolman in Northeast Ohio. Nick currently is a field training officer, firearms and active shooter instructor for the police department. Nick has an associates degree in criminal justice, and a state certified instructor for basic police academy’s in Ohio. Nick also served in the US Army as an infantryman with the 101st Airborne and retired as a platoon sergeant with the Ohio Army National Guard. Nick is a parent of three children in elementary and middle school who ride the bus daily, and understands as a parent how important and influential the school bus drivers are.
Doug Nichols
Lead S.T.A.R.T. Crisis De-Escalation Instructor and C.I.T. Instructor
Doug is a Retired Patrol Officer, Cleveland Division of Police. Currently Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Officer with Alcohol Drug Abuse Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County. Doug served the City of Cleveland Police Department as a Canine Handler, member of Bomb Squad and certified Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) Instructor. Doug received his degree in Criminal Justice from Wright State University. Doug is an avid sailor and has been racing sailboats for thirty plus years. He also loves camping and the outdoors.
Emma Borrelli
Lead S.T.A.R.T. Crisis De-Escalation Instructor and Cleveland Police Co-Responder Unit (CRT3)
Emma is a dedicated Police Co-responder Crisis Clinician with Cleveland Police specializing in crisis de-escalation. Her expertise extends to crisis negotiation, having been trained by the FBI, and her clinical specialties include trauma and substance misuse.
In addition to her fieldwork, Emma plays a key role in facilitating Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for local law enforcement agencies. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University. Outside of her professional life, Emma enjoys exploring Cleveland’s vibrant live music scene and cherishing time with her two pitbulls, Winston and Barker Mayfield, as well as her cat, Charlie.
Jim Levine
President CEO of Levine Security Solutions and Founder of the S.T.A.R.T. program.
Jim Levine started his law enforcement career with the Arlington County, VA Police Department. During his tenure, he served as a SWAT instructor and Field Training Officer (FTO). Jim currently serves as a full time police officer and commander of dignitary protection unit for a major university.
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Jim co-founded and served as Executive Vice President of Vance International, Inc., a prominent global security organization headquartered right outside of Washington, D.C. He focused on designing customized security solutions for both private and government organizations, managing the on-site implementation of high-level security personnel and global facility protection.
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After leaving the private sector, Levine returned to active-duty law enforcement and continued his role as an officer and SWAT member in Northeast Ohio. Levine is certified in active shooter response techniques and in so doing created our renown START and ELF threat response program. Jim has received certified training from Department of Homeland Security and National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education.
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Jim is certified through the Ohio Crime Prevention Association in the concepts of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) and Crisis Intervention Training. He is involved with various faith-based and community organizations in a leadership role and recognized security expert.
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Levine has a Bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Kent State University and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Studies and Applied Forensic Science from George Washington University.
Special Thanks to ALL our dedicated S.T.A.R.T. Instructors who are not currently listed.
Our team is ALWAYS growing.
S.T.A.R.T. Support Staff:
Maggie Verba - Business Manager
Robert Cohen - Business Development Consultant
Ian Young - Sales Director and Grant Assistance
Bridget Bartch - Sales Executive
J.C. Keville - Sales Executive (West Coast)
Jake Levine - Sales Executive (West Coast)
Ryan Mansfield - Marketing Advisor
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.