About CFr Defense
In an emergency, when seconds count, Police, Fire, and EMS professionals are still minutes away. The reality is that citizens are the true first responders. The average emergency response time in the U.S. ranges from 5 to 12 minutes—time that can mean the difference between life and death. CFR Defense is dedicated to equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and preparation needed to act decisively and effectively in critical situations until professional help arrives. Through our comprehensive training, we empower citizens to protect themselves, their families, and their businesses by following our preparedness model:
AWARENESS → PREVENTION → PROTECTION → MITIGATION → RESPONSE
By bridging the gap between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of first responders, CFR Defense ensures that individuals are ready to take action when it matters most.
We want to work with you
At CFR Defense, we understand that some of our training covers serious and potentially intimidating topics. Our goal is to provide professional, high-quality instruction in a welcoming, respectful, safe, and non-intimidating environment where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and included.
We believe that personal safety and preparedness are for everyone, and we are committed to making our training accessible to all. To ensure a supportive learning experience, we can offer specialized classes, including women-only and youth courses, tailored to meet the unique needs of different groups.
Regardless of your background or experience level, CFR Defense welcomes you to train with us in a professional and encouraging setting where confidence and capability are built through education and hands-on learning.
Vision
Empowering individuals and institutions by providing them with the education, training, and services needed to take decisive action to safeguard themselves, their families, or their businesses until professional help arrives.
Mission Statement
Bridging the gap between citizens and first responders.
PIllars
CFR Values
Preparedness Model
About Joe
With over 25 years of combined experience in the military, security, law enforcement, and education, Joe has the background and knowledge to effectively instruct and prepare you or your organization for critical incident response. His mission is to empower individuals by providing the education, training, and resources to take decisive action and protect themselves, their families, and their businesses until professional help arrives.
Where we train
CFR Defense is headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, a vibrant city located along the banks of the Mississippi River. With a population of approximately 53,000, La Crosse is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College. The city also boasts two major medical centers, Mayo Clinic and Gundersen Hospital. La Crosse is a hub for education, healthcare, and innovation. We are conveniently located about halfway between Minneapolis and Milwaukee, allowing us to serve a broad geographical area, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Rochester in Minnesota, as well as Milwaukee and Madison in Wisconsin, and northeastern Iowa. This allows us to provide affordable in-person local services without passing travel and lodging costs on to our clients. That said, CFR Defense would be happy to work with you at extremely competitive rates anywhere in the United States.
Subscribe for updates
Get the latest news and updates from CFR including new classes and state law requirements.
La Crosse, WI 54601
About Joe
Hello! My name is Joe, and I am the owner and founder of CFR Defense. I am a 16-year veteran of the La Crosse Police Department in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I have served 10 years in a supervisory capacity as a Sergeant within the patrol division. My roles at LCPD have included serving as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer and Patrol Sergeant. Notably, I have specialized in teaching active shooter response strategies and have conducted various training sessions for law enforcement personnel. Additionally, I have had the privilege of working with citizens and businesses across various sectors by providing active shooter response training and vulnerability assessments. I have provided these services to businesses, municipal departments, non-profits, churches, and pre-schools throughout the City of La Crosse.
Prior to my law enforcement career, I dedicated over 9 years to serving in the US Army (1998 to 2007). I served as a Combat Engineer (Sapper) in the esteemed 10th Mountain Division and completed three deployments to Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq. I led troops on combat missions as a team leader and as a squad leader. As a Staff Sergeant, I instructed soldiers in critical skills like long-range and close-quarters marksmanship, urban warfare tactics, demolitions and explosive breaching, and many other skills. I graduated from numerous schools including Air Assault School, Advanced Rifle Marksmanship school, the Warrior Leader Course, Explosive Ordinance Clearence Agent, Combat Lifesaver, and I am a graduate of the grueling Sapper Leadership Course. These experiences profoundly shaped my leadership and operational acumen in high-pressure environments. My military service was distinguished with two Bronze Star medals, the Combat Action Badge, and the prestigious Sergeant Major Aubrey Newman Award.
Following my military service, I spent 18 months as a supervisor for a private security firm in Madison, Wisconsin. During that time, I worked with clients to identify security needs and vulnerabilities, developed and implemented comprehensive security plans tailored to client needs, and provided supervision for numerous security accounts. I then transitioned into my career with the La Crosse Police Department in 2009.
I am privileged to also contribute to public safety through my instructional role at Western Technical College. I am an instructor in the Criminal Justice program and the Law Enforcement Academy. As a certified instructor with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, I teach a range of critical subjects in the academy including firearms proficiency (pistol and rifle), tactical response strategies, vehicle contacts, and I assist in conducting scenario-based training. My commitment to equipping future law enforcement professionals with essential skills ensures they are well-prepared to handle dynamic challenges and protect our communities effectively.
I hold a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville complemented by studies in Servant Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse. This educational background reflects my commitment to continuous personal and professional growth in the service of others. One valuable skill I acquired during my master's program was conducting research, a skill I apply to my work with CFR Defense. Our presentations and training programs are founded on extensive, up-to-date research, ensuring the strategies and best practices we teach are current and effective.
I founded CFR Defense as an extension of my lifelong commitment to protective service because I am passionate about protecting people. Throughout my career I have repeatedly, and sometimes tragically, seen the necessity of training and preparing citizens to be their own first responder and first line of defense. My goal is to leverage my extensive training, experience, and education to assist you in protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your business. Explore my website and contact me today to discover how I can best serve your needs!
-Joe Wiegrefe
