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Tony M. Kail is Founder and Director
of World View Intelligence. Tony has served as a consultant and law enforcement trainer for numerous regional, state and federal
agencies. He has over fifteen years of experience in research and training on the subject of magico-religious cultures and
crime.
Tony Kail has performed fieldwork
with a number of religious traditions throughout the United States. He has observed and documented a number of ceremonies
and rituals of various religious cultures. His primary expertise is in the area of African Traditional religions and Neo-Paganism.
Kail has received specialized training in the field of ritualistic crime investigation from the Miami Police Department.
Tony Kail has served as a Sheriff's
Deputy with the Madison County Sheriff's Department as well as Animal Cruelty Officer with the Madison County Humane Society.
He has served as adjunct instructor in the Police Sciences Division of the Nashville State Community College since 2000.
Tony Kail is author of the book A Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations
from Paladin Press. He is also the author of several articles on religious culture for such law enforcement publications as
Law and Order, Police Quarterly and The Backup.
Tony Kail is also a member of the
following professional associations: American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers; Tennessee Chapter of the International
Association for Identification and the Public Safety Writers Association of America
In Tony Kail’s book, “Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations: Understanding Satanism, Santeria, Wicca,
and Other Alternative Religions,” the reader finds out how to interpret
rituals, develop contacts in the occult community, recognize signs of juveniles dabbling in the occult, conduct investigations
into an occult-related crime and more. The reader will see how gangs and hate groups use occult symbolism to empower members
and terrify victims and learn to identify ritual tools with the illustrated field guide.
According to the book description of
Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities: A Guide for First Responders, “A woman
lays unconscious on the floor surrounded by charcoaled symbols, burning candles, a bowl of viscous red liquid, and an array
of dried herbs. Was this a healing ritual gone wrong or just straightforward foul play? Increasingly, first responders must
deal with foreign practices and cultures that are often disturbing in their unfamiliarity. Understanding cultural variations
and nuances can make the difference between much-needed emergency treatment and the aggravation of an already sensitive situation.
The first book of its kind, Magico-Religious
Groups and Ritualistic Activities: A Guide for First Responders provides a cultural bridge for emergency personnel when interacting
with various magico-religious cultures. More than just a litany of artifacts, rituals, and symbols, this valuable book draws
from cultural anthropology and religious studies to unearth hidden meanings and place the information in a context relevant
for the first responder. It offers crucial keys for improving communication, assessment, and treatment in culturally sensitive
situations.
Beginning with an introduction
to the importance of trans-cultural communication, the book devotes subsequent chapters to the common and contrasting elements
of several magico-religious groups. It considers the practices of Neo-Paganism, Santeria, Bantu religion (Palo Mayombe), Voodoo,
and Curanderismo. The book separates fact from fantasy regarding sacred spaces and dates, ceremonies, group structure, sacred
objects, cultural taboos, and beliefs about sickness and healing. It also includes a detailed review of the common herbs used
in healing and ritual, as well as a glossary of cultural terms and an index of symbols.
Promoting functional cultural competency,
this book gives public service agencies and emergency responders the tools to properly assess situations, open lines of communication,
protect cultural diversity and beliefs and, above all, provide effective emergency treatment.”
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