ABOUT US
BLUE
HAMMER
TRAINING
Just as the marshals and sheriffs of the frontier transformed the Wild West from lawless territory into thriving communities, Blue Hammer Training breaks down flawed practices and replaces them with stronger, proven methods. Through real-world training, we prepare law enforcement professionals to build better cases, support successful prosecutions, and strengthen public trust.
As a seasoned prosecutor, trial attorney, and legal educator, Josh has an earnest conviction to improve upon the criminal justice system from investigations through verdicts. He has teamed up with Michelle, a master and veteran educator as well as spouse of 35 years, to develop an engaging curriculum that will be delivered to police agencies as a tailored, in-person training that meets the needs of all agency sizes and budgets. Blue Hammer Training draws upon years of experience, including the moments that have brought cases to a conviction as well as non-guilty verdicts.
Josh and Michelle's roots are grounded in the Salt Lake Valley, but currently reside in Durango, Colorado - the Wild West.
DIRECTORS
BLUE
HAMMER
TRAINING
JOSH PLAYER
Josh is a seasoned prosecutor, trial attorney, and legal educator with a career dedicated to public service, justice, and community safety. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the University of Utah and graduated early from Seattle University School of Law in December 1996. Shortly after receiving his Juris Doctor, Josh completed Utah’s Peace Officers Standards and Training Academy and served in the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and Utah State Courts as a law clerk, bailiff, and deputy in the Fourth District Court.
Josh later maintained a private law practice before joining the Utah Attorney General’s Office, where he handled both civil and criminal child support matters. In 2003, he transitioned to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted a wide range of cases - from juvenile delinquency to first-degree murder - and was designated as a homicide-qualified prosecutor. During his tenure, he supervised multiple units, including Major Crimes, Special Victims, Felony DUI, and Screening.
In addition to his prosecutorial work, Josh served for over ten years as an adjunct professor at Salt Lake Community College’s Institute of Public Safety, teaching cadets and officers on a broad array of legal and courtroom subjects. He also trained prosecutors statewide through the Utah Prosecution Council and provided instruction to numerous law enforcement agencies across Utah and other states. His commitment to mentorship and professional development earned him the Utah State Bar’s Mentor of the Year Award in 2012, and he held leadership roles within the Bar’s Criminal Law Section and New Lawyer Training Committee.
In 2019, Josh joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado as an Assistant United States Attorney. In this role, he prosecutes serious federal crimes in the Four Corners region, including major offenses occurring on two Native American reservations. He also serves as the district’s Tribal Liaison, working closely with tribal, federal, and local law enforcement agencies and providing ongoing training and support. Over the course of his career, Josh has taken more than 50 cases to jury trial, including multiple federal felony trials, building extensive experience handling the most serious and complex criminal matters from investigation through verdict.
MICHELLE PLAYER
Michelle is a 35-year veteran educator with a Master of Arts in Teaching and a career defined by engaging, multi-modal curriculum design. Her work successfully reaches diverse learning styles and has earned her multiple nominations for Teacher of the Year, as well as lifelong connections with the teaching community, including thousands of former students who continue to be in her life.
Michelle studied and earned degrees in Criminology, Sociology, English, and Women’s Studies at the University of Utah and later earned an additional degree in Dance Education. After more than 30 years in the classroom, Michelle retired from teaching to pursue writing and other creative endeavors. Her published work, Glass Moon, is focused on the aging process and grounded in extensive research, including a five-year teaching and Life Enrichment position at an Assisted Living and Dementia facility in Colorado.
Michelle has been married to her husband, Josh, for 35 years. As a prosecutor with a talent for debate, Josh has made their partnership both intellectually challenging and dynamic. A competitive force by nature, Michelle quickly learned to sharpen her own skills to hold her ground in husband-versus-wife negotiations. Through assisting Josh with presentation skills and supporting his career, she has gained substantial firsthand knowledge of the legal system and maintains a Certification in Criminology.
FACULTY
BLUE
HAMMER
TRAINING
Blake Hills
Blake Hills received a B.S. in Economics and Geography from Weber State University and J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law. He has written numerous articles in law reviews all across the country.
Blake worked as an appellate clerk for the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals for approximately two years after graduating from law school. He then spent just under twenty-one years working as a prosecutor for the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office and the Summit County Attorney’s office. During most of his time as a prosecutor, he focused on prosecuting homicide, special victim, and domestic violence cases.
Blake became a member of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole five years ago. He currently serves as the Chair.
Drew Yeates
Drew Yeates is a highly experienced and accomplished trial lawyer, having tried 30 jury trials and scores of bench trials. Based on the reputation he has built both in and outside the courtroom, Drew was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), “an invitation only Fellowship of exceptional trial lawyers from the United States and Canada who have demonstrated the very highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality.” Drew has tried a vast array of criminal cases at all levels, including justice court, juvenile court, state trial court, and federal district court. He has earned national recognition for both his work and his volunteer service, receiving an award from Attorney General Merrick Garland for his prosecution of a violent hate crime and an award from Attorney General William Barr for his pro bono representation of over 200 domestic violence victims.
Drew focuses his practice on complex white collar criminal defense, fraud and securities litigation, government enforcement actions, and asset forfeiture litigation.
As a former, longtime federal prosecutor, Drew has served in a variety of leadership roles within the United States Attorney’s Office. Before joining Dentons, Drew served for nearly a decade as Deputy Chief and then Chief of the Criminal Division, supervising over 40 federal prosecutors and overseeing all federal criminal cases throughout Utah. Drew’s experience in supervising and advising federal agencies in multifaceted investigations has provided him keen insight within the practice areas of government enforcement and corporate investigations.