About Dominick Izzo

About Dominick Izzo

Cop Talk LIVE founder Dominick Izzo is a former police officer, certified law enforcement instructor, nationally recognized police use-of-force analyst with nearly two decades of combined law enforcement, defensive tactics, and training experience.

Throughout his career, Izzo served with multiple Illinois police departments in patrol operations and specialized assignments, while earning instructor-level certifications in use of force, defensive tactics, DUI enforcement, and field training. His background includes experience in gang enforcement, warrant service operations, juvenile investigations, crowd-control/mobile field force operations, and officer training environments.

Beyond traditional patrol work, Izzo developed extensive expertise in police defensive tactics and officer decision-making under stress through years of continuous martial arts and control tactics instruction. As owner and operator of the Izzo Wing Chun Academy since 2007, he has trained civilians and law enforcement personnel in close-quarters control tactics, reaction timing, balance disruption, and practical force application principles relevant to real-world police encounters.

Izzo’s professional reputation expanded nationally through his work as founder and host of Cop Talk LIVE, where he provides detailed analysis of police body-worn camera footage, officer-involved shootings, use-of-force incidents, pursuit tactics, and law enforcement policy issues. His commentary focuses on objective force analysis, officer decision-making, legal standards, tactical considerations, and professional accountability within policing.

His analysis and commentary have led to appearances on multiple national media platforms, including RT International, RT News, The Armstrong Williams Show, Real AF with Andy Frisella, The Young Turks, and Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey. He has also spoken publicly at law enforcement and pro-police events nationwide.

Izzo is the author of the book Before the Badge: Everything You Need to Know Before You Become a Cop and has been recognized during his law enforcement career with awards including Officer of the Year, the Chief’s Achievement Award, and the Exceptional Duty Medal.

His work today centers on advancing professional policing standards through critical analysis, officer accountability, training evaluation, and public education regarding police use of force and officer performance under stress.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email: coptalklive911@gmail.com

Website: www.CopTalkLIVE.org

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Police Use-of-Force Expert, former Police Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and host of Cop Talk LIVE. Specializes in police procedure, body-worn camera analysis, officer decision-making, and law enforcement training standards.

LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Village of Round Lake Beach Police Department — Police Officer (3/28/2001 – 11/1/2005)
Village of Round Lake Heights Police Department — Police Officer (10/10/2006 – 9/2/2008)
Village of Round Lake Park Police Department — Police Officer (12/4/2013 – 10/8/2019)

POLICE ACADEMY

Police Training Institute, University of Illinois — Class 1871 (March 2001 – June 2001)

POLICE CERTIFICATIONS & SPECIALIZED TRAINING

Use of Force Instructor
Field Training Officer (FTO)
Juvenile Officer
SFST (Standardized Field Sobriety Testing) Certified
DUI Enforcement Specialist
Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC)
Defensive Tactics Expert
NIPAS Mobile Field Force
Breath Analysis Operator
OC Instructor
Monadnock Baton Instructor
Handcuffing Instructor
Media Liaison
Gang Unit
Warrant Service Team

DEFENSIVE TACTICS & MARTIAL ARTS BACKGROUND

Member of Halligan’s Combat Training for Law Enforcement (2002–2007)
Owner/Operator – Izzo Wing Chun Academy (2007–Present)

Specializing in law enforcement defensive tactics, control tactics, and skills for patrol officers.

MEDIA APPEARANCES

Regular contributor: RT International, RT News, The Armstrong Williams Show
Featured guest: Real AF Podcast (Andy Frisella), The Young Turks, Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey
Recurring guest on multiple national and independent police podcasts

SPEAKING EVENTS