A former police chief with decades of law enforcement experience is offering another free handgun survival and self-defense class in Prineville this December, citing increased public interest following the deadly school shooting in Bend earlier this month.
Jerry Boyd, a Prineville resident, retired law enforcement officer and published author, announced that he will hold his final “Saving Your Life With a Handgun/Survival Tactics” class of the year on Sunday, December 6th, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Bullseye Firearms in Prineville.
Boyd said the additional class was scheduled after he was forced to turn away 12 prospective participants from his previous class because of limited space. He also attributed the increased interest to the October 15th school shooting in Bend, which has renewed concerns about personal safety throughout Central Oregon.
“Due to having to turn down 12 from the last class due to limited space and increased interest in the subject due to the school shooting in Bend there will be one more Saving Your Life With a Handgun/Survival Tactics Class,” Boyd wrote in his announcement.
The increased interest in Boyd’s class comes amid a broader rise in demand for firearms training across Central Oregon following the October 15th shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, which left three children and an adult dead.
According to reporting by our news partner KTVZ, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported on October 22nd that 204 individuals had signed up to begin the process of obtaining a concealed handgun license since the shooting.
The increased demand prompted the Sheriff’s Office to schedule an additional concealed handgun licensing class for November 14, with 45 available spaces. Officials said further classes could be added depending on demand.
“Often after major incidents that impact our community, we see more interest in concealed handgun licenses,” Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert said in a statement. “This trend is consistent with what we have observed historically, and we understand why many residents are thinking more about personal and family safety right now.”
Unlike traditional concealed handgun licensing courses, Boyd said his class focuses on practical survival strategies, including recognizing and avoiding potentially deadly confrontations before they escalate.
For situations where avoiding a confrontation is no longer possible, the course will address tactics intended to improve a person’s chances of surviving a deadly force encounter.
“Bring a folding chair and be prepared to learn things no Concealed Handgun Class covers,” Boyd wrote. “How to avoid a deadly force encounter and if that is impossible tactics that will help you survive.”
Boyd described the instruction as being based on real-world experience involving deadly force encounters.
Decades of law enforcement experience
Boyd brings an extensive background in law enforcement, emergency services and public safety to the course.
According to his publicly listed professional background, Boyd previously served as chief of police for the Coronado and Martinez police departments in California. Earlier in his career, he held the ranks of lieutenant and captain with the Irvine Police Department and served as a deputy, detective and sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
His experience also includes serving as reserve commander with the Baker City Police Department in Oregon, director of Baker County’s 9-1-1 dispatch operations and a fire chief with the Shasta County Fire Department in California.
Beyond his law enforcement career, Boyd is an author of 20 published books covering a variety of subjects. He also previously wrote a monthly column for American COP Magazine, a publication focused on law enforcement professionals.
Boyd studied at Loyola University of Los Angeles and California State University, Long Beach, where he reports earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively.
Now living in Prineville, Boyd continues to share his experience through educational programs focused on personal safety, defensive tactics and surviving violent encounters.
Free class limited to 30 participants
The December 6th class is being offered at no cost, although advance registration is required.
Boyd said at least 15 participants must register for the class to take place, while attendance will be capped at 30 because of space limitations at the venue, and Participants are asked to bring a folding chair.
With prospective attendees having been turned away from the previous session, Boyd encouraged those interested to register early.
“This class may fill up early so sign up now,” Boyd said, also encouraging residents to share the opportunity with others throughout the Bend and Redmond areas.
The free course differs from the additional concealed handgun licensing class being offered by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, which carries a $150 fee covering training and application costs. Boyd’s course instead emphasizes personal safety and survival tactics beyond the standard concealed handgun licensing curriculum.
Those interested in attending can contact Boyd directly through Facebook Messenger to reserve a space.
Class Details:
- Course: Saving Your Life With a Handgun/Survival Tactics
- Date: Sunday, December 6th, 2026
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
- Location: Bullseye Firearms, Prineville
- Cost: Free
- Capacity: 15 participants minimum; 30 maximum
- Registration: Contact Jerry Boyd through Facebook Messenger
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
