NFL Star Logan Ryan and His Police Veteran Dad Start Company to Support Cops
'Bridging the gap between police and communities'
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New York Giants safety Logan Ryan and his 25 years police veteran dad have launched a new program to support law enforcement, bridging the gap between police and communities.
Logan referred to his father, Lester Ryan, as his hero.
The father and son started a Ryan Alternative Solutions Training (RAST) to train police in de-escalation, seeking real reform instead of the "Defund The Police."
"My dad is my hero. He's a black man in this country," Ryan said.
"He's 25 years a cop in Camden, New Jersey. …
"He worked in the FBI, the SWAT team, he also has multiple black belts in martial arts."
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"So I feel like he's extremely qualified when we talk about police reform," Ryan told NFL Network host Nate Burleson.
"We obviously know where we are in the nation, where we are in the country; there's a lot of divide."
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We founded this company together in hopes of using his expertise and my platform to better equip officers with the tools they need to achieve both maximum citizen and officer safety. As a black man and son of a black police officer, I hope to be part of the solution. đđžâŻď¸ (@gmfb) pic.twitter.com/I0GHNg3uFA
— Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) July 21, 2021
"And honestly, athletes have the biggest social justice calling of any time," he added.
"We have the mics in front of us, we have great platforms, and I always want to use my platform."
Ryan said the difficulties his father faced as a police officer prompted him to use his platform to bridge relations between law enforcement and the public.
"I believe in the police. I don't believe in defunding the police," he stated.
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"I believe we need the police. I believe our police need better training to be better equipped to handle some of the situations they deal with," Ryan said.
According to RAST's website, the core tenets are "accountability," "competency," and "training."
The organization says it believes police can make better decisions to avoid violent confrontations and bring "harmony" back between police and the public.
"The Ryan Approach promotes safety for citizens and officers which reinforces police accountability to management and to the public," the website states.
Ryan said the goal is that cops and the people they interact with can return home to their wives and kids without a tragedy.
"I was involved in the George Floyd lobbying ... but I really want to put some skin in the game and take it to the next step."
"So I started a company with my dad because I feel like he has great insight, being a former police officer," Ryan said.
"There are good apples out there; there are a lot of good apples.
"And just like an NFL player, if someone gets arrested, we're all deemed bad apples."
"'All these NFL guys are spoiled, they're entitled, they don't care about women, they don't care about life.'
"Well, there's a lot of good guys that are doing good things behind the scenes just like my dad."
