HITS Instructors
HITS pride ourselves with providing the most qualified instructors available. Our instructors are unquestionably experts in all areas of criminal patrol and drug interdiction. We hand pick our instructors based upon their professionalism as well as training. Our officers bring a wealth of information to the table that they are more than willing to share with other fellow officers.
In 2004 a district attorney in an adjacent county wanted to do something to address the inflating crime issues within his three county prosecutorial jurisdictions. His goal was to form a small team of officers that could address crime issues within his jurisdiction that were going unchecked. The agencies within the impact area lacked the manpower, expertise, as well as the equipment to address these issues. He approached Billy and a fellow co-worker Ronnie Stiltner due to their law enforcement backgrounds. They both agreed to take on the endeavor and shortly afterwards a two-man team was formed. Though addressed as a district attorney’s office criminal investigator, Billy does not work in an office setting. His job is in the field, out in the streets fighting crime. Depending on the case or investigation, he may be in a uniform in a marked patrol unit one minute and then change into plain clothes and a personal vehicle the next. The investigations may be self-initiated or at the request of another agency. His expertise is very broad. His knowledge and practical experience in investigative disciplines is vast either from a patrol perspective or from an investigators standpoint.
Billy holds an instructor certification issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCOLE). To date he has provided instruction to thousands of fellow law enforcement officers throughout the United States on law enforcement related topics. He is also a principle holder of HITS Inc., a law enforcement training company responsible for developing and instructing specific training courses.
In 2004 a district attorney in an adjacent county wanted to do something to address the inflating crime issues within his three county prosecutorial jurisdictions. His goal was to form a small team of officers that could address crime issues within his jurisdiction that were going unchecked. The agencies within the impact area lacked the manpower, expertise, as well as the equipment to address these issues. He approached Ronnie and a fellow co-worker Billy Sides due to their law enforcement backgrounds. They both agreed to take on the endeavor and shortly afterwards a two-man team was formed. Though addressed as a district attorney’s office criminal investigator, Ronnie does not work in an office setting. His job is in the field, out in the streets fighting crime. Depending on the case or investigation, he may be in a uniform in a marked patrol unit one minute and then change into plain clothes and a personal vehicle the next. The investigations may be self- initiated or at the request of another agency. His expertise is very broad. His knowledge and practical experience in investigative disciplines is vast either from a patrol perspective or from an investigators standpoint.
Ronnie holds an instructor certification issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCOLE). To date he has provided instruction to thousands of fellow law enforcement officers throughout the United States on law enforcement related topics. He is also a principle holder of HITS Inc., a law enforcement training company responsible for developing and instructing specific training courses.
Anthony is a nationally certified police K9 Trainer in the areas of Scent Detection, Apprehension, Tracking, and serves as OBN’s K9 trainer.
Anthony is an advanced instructor for (CLEET) Oklahoma’s certifying authority for law Enforcement. He is a member of the CLEET K9 Advisory Board and is a certifying official for the CLEET K9 program. Anthony is recognized as an expert in K9 Interdiction, K9 law and has extensive courtroom experience testifying in major Interdiction and Drug Smuggling cases on the State and Federal level.
Anthony has been recognized by the State and nationally numerous times for his Criminal Interdictions that include; narcotics, mobile meth labs, currency, after market compartments and known wanted terrorist. Some of his most notable seizures are 1.1 Million in US Currency seized from a Commercial Motor Vehicle during a cold traffic stop that lead to the forfeiture of the currency, the CMV, and one other vehicle involved in the stop, intercepting an Iraqi National and ISIS member during a traffic stop, 5oz of KHAT that lead to the arrest of 6 Somali Nationals operating a multi-million dollar KHAT smuggling ring. All six were members of a Somali based terror organization “Al Shabaab” and had been operating in the United States for over a year. Not to mention the numerous narcotic interdictions that have been prosecuted on the state and federal levels.
Anthony’s awards include The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics “Agent of the Year“, The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics “Agent of the Quarter“, Multiple National Criminal Enforcement Assoc. awards that include “Interdictor of the Month”, Terrorist Apprehension award winner and the award for the most Khat seized in the United States. The Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers “Regional Canine Team of the Year”, recognition from the DEA, HSI and numerous state and national long range precision shooting championships and awards.
During Darin’s tenure working highway interdiction, he has seized thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics and over 5 million dollars in drug-related currency. Some of Darin’s most notable seizures to date are cold stops of 1,262 pounds of liquid methamphetamine located in a semi diesel tank, which was the largest methamphetamine seizure in Oklahoma, 88 pounds of methamphetamine located in an electronic compartment and $376,000.00 in drug related currency. Darin prides himself in networking with law enforcement around the country and is focused on furthering seizure investigations that started on the side of the road.
Over the past twenty years Darin has accumulated over 2,500 hours of police training. Over 1,000 hours of that has been specialized training relating to criminal interdiction, interviews and interrogations, financial crimes, and drug detection K-9 and search and seizure. Darin has receive specialized training from the Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers (A-ONE), the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), the Drug Interdiction Assistance Program (DIAP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD), the Highway Interdiction Training Specialist (HITS), Desert Snow phases I, II, III and IV, Global Counter-Smuggling Training Consultants, Battle Born K-9, Diamondback Tactical CMV Training and from the Regional Counter Drug Training Academy (RCTA). Darin is certified as an instructor with the Council for Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET), Oklahoma’s certifying authority for law enforcement. Darin also has extensive courtroom experience, testifying in both state and federal court.
In addition to working criminal interdiction, Darin has worked 14 years as a SWAT team member, a field training officer, a law enforcement driver training instructor (LEDT) and a K-9 handler for the Norman Police Department. Darin has received numerous awards from the Norman Police Department, DEA and the Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers (AONE). Some of the most notable awards Darin has received are the AONE’s K-9 team of the year 2010-2011 with K-9 LUX, the Norman Police Department’s Officer of the Year 2016 and the AONE’s K-9 team of the year 2017-2018 with K-9 KILO.
During his career he has made several significant seizures and other criminal arrests. Officer McElroy has seized and been involved in investigations resulting in the seizure of thousands of pounds of narcotics and over two million dollars in US Currency. He has also apprehended several fugitives from justice including an escaped convict and a subject wanted for Aggravated Murder. Officer McElroy has located numerous secret compartments in vehicles which contained illegal narcotics and illicit United States Currency. He has been summoned by other agencies to assist in the search of vehicles due to his knowledge of hidden compartments.
Officer McElroy is a Board Member for the National Criminal Enforcement Association. He is certified as a Master Interdictor through the National Criminal Enforcement Association.
Derek is currently a partner with a large law firm, (he does not defend criminals), but still represents the State in cases on appeal and serves as “special prosecutor” when appointed for certain criminal cases. As a felony prosecutor, Derek represented the state of Texas in numerous bench and jury trials. His experience includes cases for murder, engaging in organized criminal activity, money laundering, manufacture/delivery of controlled substances, intoxication manslaughter, aggravated robbery, robbery, burglary of a habitation and varying levels of possession of controlled substances. In his civil practice, Derek practices in state and federal courts throughout Texas. He has handled litigation and appellate matters in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio and Wyoming.
Derek graduated in 2001 from Texas A & M with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and received his Law Degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D., cum laude in 2006.
Derek has received several honors throughout his career to include Texas Super Lawyer, “Up-and-coming 100: 2017 Texas Rising Stars”, Texas Super Lawyer, “Up-and-coming 100: 2018 Texas Rising Stars”, Texas Super Lawyer, “Up-and-coming 100: 2019 Texas Rising Stars”, Texas Super Lawyer, Rising Star (2009-2019) and Bob Black Bar Leadership Award (2019). His admissions include State Bar of Texas, 2006, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Derek’s affiliations include the Midland, Tarrant and Nolan County Bar Associations and the Texas District and County Attorney Association.
Dakota has vast experiences in working undercover during controlled buys of narcotics and stolen property. Dakota is a Norman Police Department SWAT team member where he has served since 2012 and leads an entry team element.
Dakota holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Officer status and is a certified instructor with the Council for Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). Dakota has attended training from the Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers (A-One) and narcotics enforcement training from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Dakota was a recipient of the Norman Police Departments officer of the year award, Cleveland County Crime stoppers Award, and the National Association of Police Organizations Top Cop Honorable Mention due to his work on an investigation where a violent street gang was dismantled and charged with racketeering crimes.
Dakota holds a commission with Homeland Security Investigation as a Task Force Officer in Oklahoma City with a group that focuses on Narcotics, firearms, and violent gangs and as such has worked investigations and testified extensively at both the state and federal level. Dakota’s experiences and investigations have led to the successful conviction of hundreds of criminals.
In 1998 Joel became employed with the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Department which is located just east of Dallas on Interstate 30. At Rockwall County Joel quickly developed a skill set for encountering large amounts of narcotics and currency flowing to and from Texas to the eastern seaboard. Joel was quickly recruited to the S.T.O.P. Narcotics Task Force based in Johnson County just south of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. The S.T.O.P Narcotics Task Force was part of the Texas Narcotics Control Program which afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively to other jurisdictions to work and teach.
Joel has made significant seizures on every major drug thoroughfare in the State of Texas with the exception of I-40.
In 2004, Joel moved to the Regional Narcotics Task Force which was based south of San Antonio. This unit encompassed 11 counties that stretched from San Antonio south towards the Rio Grande Valley. In 2006, funding for all T.N.C.P. Task Forces were cut and most were disbanded. Joel returned to Rockwall County Sheriff’s Department where he became a patrol Sergeant. In 2017 Joel was approached by Tully Yount who was representing a group of North Texas Sheriffs. Joel was asked to assist Yount in forming an interdiction team in North Texas designed to combat the flow of bulk narcotics, human smuggling and other criminal activity flowing in and out of the Dallas- Ft. Worth Area. Joel is currently a key member of the North Texas Sheriff’s Criminal Interdiction team, which is one of the most aggressive narcotics teams in the State of Texas.
Throughout his career Joel has made countless seizures totaling over 5 tons of various narcotics and over 3 million dollars in currency. His investigations have led to arrests across the United States and into South America. In 2017 Joel was awarded with Interdiction Officer of the Year by the Texas Narcotics Officers Association.
While in the Air Force, Frank was a Security Force Specialist and a Military Training Instructor. Frank was instrumental in the Air Force re-organization of the security force career field in 1998, by assisting in the re-writing of Air Force Security Forces lesson plans and training materials.
As a Military Training Instructor, Frank assisted in developing, writing and updating lesson plans specific for security force members between 1996 and 2000. During his four years as a training instructor, Frank trained over 2,000 military members in the basic and advanced Security Forces Courses. Frank finished his military career as a First Sergeant assigned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
After joining the Abilene Police Department, Frank spent two years as a patrolman before he was selected to the Criminal Investigations Division in 2010, where he worked Crimes Against Children. Frank was one of the first members of the Abilene Police Department Special Victim’s Unit, Crimes Against Children, where he has worked as a lead investigator in over 1,700 cases involving physical and sexual abuse of children. Frank also has assisted in numerous homicides, and aggravated assault and robbery investigations.
Frank has compiled countless hours in court room testimony in felony cases involving child abuse and crimes against persons. Frank is a Master Peace Officer with the State of Texas and a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLOE) Instructor.