Raimondo “Ray” DeCunto began his career with the Madeira Beach, Florida Police Department in 1981, and in 1985 he was hired by the Pinellas Country Sheriff’s Office. As a deputy sheriff, Ray has served in such assignments as patrol, field training, traffic enforcement, the training division and narcotics. He was assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. team for 13 years, nine of those as a Team Leader. Ray spent a total of 14 years in the Narcotics Division. The last nine years of his career as a sergeant within the Narcotics Division. His responsibilities included supervising and directing covert & overt drug operations. Additionally, he coordinated the tactical training for the Narcotics Division as it relates to undercover investigations, the execution of search warrants, agent rescues and buy-bust operations.
Ray retired from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office in June of 2009 after completing 28 years of service in law enforcement. Ray has been a police trainer since 1990 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree through Tampa College, Florida. Ray is currently an instructor with Lifeline Training and teaches The Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar as well as other customized survival type seminars. He is a certified instructor in firearms, defensive tactics, defensive driving, expandable baton and chemical agents. Ray has been involved in the development and instruction of courses involving basic and advanced tactical drug operations, tactical maritime activities, and SWAT operations. He is also an instructor with the Multi-jurisdictional Counter Drug Task Force Training Program, focusing on officer survival during narcotics investigations, raids, and arrests. Ray has taught numerous tactical survival courses to law enforcement and military personnel in the United States as well as the Mariana Islands, specifically Saipan and he holds a narcotics training certificate through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Ray’s new course, Protect This House focuses on Training for the Courthouse Law Enforcement Officer. Courthouse Law enforcement officers work in unique environments, creating unique threats. Communication is a constant in the law enforcement profession. Protect This House presents a dynamic and realistic look at the violence officers face and examines how effective communication skills are one of the most important weapons in detecting and preventing attacks.