The RIPP™ brand of products was founded in 1988 by my father, Bill DeVane Sr. As a former police officer, my father had some strong feelings about what types of products would REALLY be useful to the people who were actually working in the streets. He was also very aware of the everyday problems faced by departments...which prompted his first "invention"...the Hobble.But Dad knew that the Hobble–without adequate training–would not be enough to protect personnel and their departments from the growing threat of litigation for in-custody deaths. So he combined actual field experience, years of research on the subject and the products he'd developed, and created the RIPP™ Sudden Custody Death Syndrome training course, in 1994.From the beginning, training has always been a integral part of Dad's vision for RIPP™. So popular have our courses become that training certified instructors to go back to their agency and train others became necessary. And, over the years, we have certified many, fine instructors who have worked closely with RIPP™ and are as enthusiastic and passionate about my father's vision, as he was. And that vision is one that is shared by everyone at RIPP™ today...to create the safest working environment possible for our men and women who risk their lives, daily, by providing equipment that is dependable and useful along with training for its proper use, and by sharing techniques to help KEEP THEM SAFE! Sadly, we lost my father, our Founder, in January 2016. He was an incredible man with a larger than life personality. His enthusiasm, passion and creativity will be sorely missed. He created many popular, widely used products, and his time in the field doing training seminars and research kept him in close contact with the law enforcement, corrections and medical fields. From them, he was constantly learning what was needed...what YOU needed...and continued to develop products.For those of you that don't know me, I have years of experience with RIPP™, working with my father since 1995 and as the owner since 2011. I am extremely passionate and determined to continue my fathers' legacy. You have my commitment.....that RIPP™ will continue his vision in finding new and innovative ways to support and assist our emergency responder community, with the same quality and dedication, as he had. Sincerely... Joelle R DeVane
