Long Beach Police Department - Office of Counter-Terrorism
Detective Ebrahim Ashabi is a 12-year veteran of Long Beach Police Department. He was born in Iran as a Shiite Muslim and lived through the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1978-79 and the Iran – Iraq war. He fled from Iran in 1982 to Europe. After immigrating to the US, he lived in New York and Washington D.C. area. Detective Ashabi moved to Los Angeles in 1990 and joined the Long Beach Police Department in 1997. He is currently assigned to the Office of Counter Terrorism and is responsible for collecting, analyzing and investigating criminal intelligence related to international and domestic terrorism, organized crime, and extremist activities. He also assists in investigations with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Detective Ashabi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and a Masters degree of Science in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Detective Ashabi has been involved in training law enforcement officers for the past five years.
John Benner President Tactical Defense Institute
President of the Tactical Defense Institute, John is a 38 year law enforcement veteran with 31 years on SWAT, commanding the Hamilton County Police Association team for 20 years. John spent 11 years in the US Army between active and reserve and is a Vietnam Veteran. The Ka-Bar TDI Law Enforcement knives are designed by John. TDI is the exclusive provider of active shooter training for the National School Resource Officers (NASRO).
Dr. Robert Best JIEDDO
Corporal Lamar Blakely
Corporal Lamar Blakely
Special Deputy, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force
Lamar started with the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office in Feb. 2002 as a detention officer.In Aug. 2005, Corporal Blakely was hired as a deputy sheriff with the Uniform Patrol Division. In 2006, after a number of large drug and money seizures, he was assigned to the Selective Enforcement Team and stayed there until 2008.
In September, 2008, Corporal Blakely was assigned to the K9 Division. He is an active member of The National Criminal Enforcement Association and National Drug Enforcement officers Association.
Sgt. Betsy Smith is a 29-year veteran of a large suburban Chicago-area police department.Recently retired as a patrol supervisor, she has held positions in patrol, investigations, narcotics, juvenile, crime prevention and field training.As a sergeant, she supervised her department's K-9 Unit, served as a field training sergeant, recruitment team sergeant, bike patrol coordinator, the Crowd Control Bike Team supervisor, and supervisor of the Community Education/Crime Prevention Unit. A patrol sergeant, Betsy served on the Elderly Services Team, the Crisis Intervention Team, and was a supervisory member of the Honor Guard Unit.From 1999 - 2003 Betsy hosted various programs for the Law Enforcement Television Network and served as a content expert. A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's School of Staff and Command Betsy writes for numerous law enforcement and government publications, and is a regular columnist for Police One, Police Link, and Law Officer. A content expert and instructor for the Calibre Press "Street Survival" seminar since 2003, Betsy also serves as an on-air commentator and advisor for Police One TV and is currently a featured character in the Biography Channel’s “Female Forces” reality show. Betsy is the lead instructor for the Calibre Press “Street Survival for Women” seminar and manages Dave Smith & Associates. Together, Betsy and Dave teach courses through Winning Mind Seminars, an Illinois based company.She can be reached through her website at www.femaleforces.com.
Dr. Keith Brown, FAAFP (US), FRSTMH (UK) is the Chief Medical Officer of Global Operational Medical Services, Inc. as well as an active medical school faculty member in the United States and Europe. A former Paramedic, Police Officer, Fire Fighter, and United States Air Force Security Forces member, he has served as SRT Leader, Designated Marksman, Breacher, Medic, Armorer, and instructor and supervisor roles as well as TEMS Physician Medical Director or advisor in several military and civilian units. Dr. Brown has taught numerous military and civilian programs including at the Kauffman EOD School, NTOA/International Breachers Symposium, and the Royal Defense Collage (UK). He has served and instructed in Iraq, Pakistan, Central America, and dozens of other areas around the world, including serving as Expedition Medical Director for the NASA/National Geographic K-2 Expedition of 2005. Dr. Brown teaches and practices in the United States 6 months per year, and spends the remaining time overseas teaching various NATO and ‘friendly foreign power’ units tactical, operational, and remote medicine as well as supervising medical providers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
CEO GOR UK Ltd part of Global Operational Resources Group Inc.
David Connell is the CEO GOR UK Ltd part of Global Operational Resources Group Inc. He joined Her Majesties Armed Forces in 1982 during which time he deployed on operations in Northern Ireland, with the United Nations, Operation Desert Storm and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1995 he was selected to join the UK Special Forces Medical Support Unit and served with that unit conducting training and deploying on operations. He retired from the military in 2004 establishing a successful Medical Life Support company in the UK. He has undertaken projects in Afghanistan, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur Sudan and other areas of the world. David has a special interest in the prolonged care of casualties in remote and hostile areas. He has championed the use of advanced simulators and realistic training among operators and non-medics and seeks ways in which their performance can be enhanced during a crisis. He joined GOR Group in 2008.
Director of Tactical Mission Consulting, LLC a dedicated professional organization focuses on law enforcement training through comprehensive, effective and innovative techniques. TMC recognizes the presence of highly trained; highly skilled tactical units have been shown to reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, police officers and suspects.
May 2007, I retired from the Los Angeles Police Department, after 35 years of service. The last 23 years, I was assigned to the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team. I was responsible for orchestrating SWAT tactics in active shooter, barricaded subjects, high-risk warrant service, and hostage rescue situations.
Project Manager, Global Operations Resources Group - Iraq
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Art Geffen has over twenty-six years of combined military, civilian and government experience. He is a twenty-four year veteran of the U.S. Army serving as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He has been a U.S. Government Contractor and Country Project Manager abroad. Art has training and experience in remote medical management, intelligence operations, Guerrilla Warfare, Counter Terrorism, Security Tactics and languages. While on active duty, he gained remote Operational Medicine experience throughout South East Asia, Western Africa, and the Middle East. Art is an experienced wilderness survival instructor and was a Survival Medicine Instructor at the U.S. Army’s SERE School (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Evasion) at Camp McCall, NC. After retiring from the Army, Art earned his Masters’ Degree in Physician Assistant Studies at East Carolina University. He then served as an Advanced Medical Instructor at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center at Fort Bragg, NC. For the past two years, Art has been the In-Country Manager for Global Operational Resources Group in Iraq. As the ICM, he is responsible for medical oversight and operational control for tactical medics in support of security companies participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Al Giusto is a full-time Police Officer in Topsham, Maine. He’s a black belt in the art of Bo Fung Do and has been certified as a Police Defensive Tactics instructor through Modern Warrior Defensive Tactics Institute. He’s been studying different combative systems for 16 years and he’s the owner/instructor of Combined Combatives, based out of South Portland, Maine. He also taught at TREXPO East in 2005 and 2006 and has had two articles published by Police magazine. Before moving to Maine, Al owned a successful martial art school in Brooklyn, NY. For more info, go to www.combinedcombatives.com.
Elliott Grollman has served 29 years with the agency, and is currently the Co-Chairman of the COG Police Training Sub-committee, as well as Chairman of the COG Law Enforcement Working Group on WMD. Commander Grollman is a member of the COG Bio-Terrorism Task Force, and serves as Team Leader for the Law Enforcement sector of the National Medical Response Team (NMRT), formerly the MMST. He is a retired Army Reserve Military Police Officer with additional duty as the NBC Defense Officer. As an Adjunct Professor for Criminal Justice at Northern Virginia Community College, and a member of the Advisory Council for George Washington University READI Institute, he is well known throughout the law enforcement community as a consultant and author.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world's foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime. He is a West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science, and an Army Ranger who has combined his experiences to become the founder of a new field of scientific endeavor, which has been termed “killology.” In this new field. Col. Grossman has made revolutionary new contributions to our understanding of killing in war, the psychological costs of war, the root causes of the current "virus" of violent crime that is raging around the world, and the process of healing the victims of violence, in war and peace. Read more.
National Rifle Association, Law Enforcement Division, Glen Hoyer is a 25-year law enforcement veteran, retiring from the Lexington County, South Carolina sheriff's department as a captain in 2000. He has been a firearm instructor for 20 years, certified by the NRA in handgun/shotgun, submachine gun, patrol rifle, as well as being a tactical instructor and has been a presenter for ILEETA at their annual training conference. Additionally, he is certified by the Smith & Wesson Academy as a submachine gun instructor and by the state of South Carolina as a civilian concealed carry instructor. Glen has been to armorer schools for Colt, Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, and has served as a member of a tactical team, been a competitive shooter and attended school for the investigation of officer involved shootings. Glen has received numerous awards during his career to include; Meritorious Conduct, Officer of the Year, Life Saving, Tactical Operations contribution, Major Case Contribution, and has received commendations from the Fraternal Order of Police and the South Carolina State Senate. He has also provided testimony before both the Senate and House sub-committees on firearms and police matters. Glen has been an NRA law enforcement adjunct instructor since 1996, a PPC referee, and is a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), and the International Law Enforcement Trainers and Educators Association (ILEETA). Glen is a Patron member of the NRA. nt Division.
Douglas C. Kimbell is the Program Manager of Operational Medical Education for Global Operational Resources Group Inc. He has more than 30 years experience in Emergency Medical Services. The past 8 years he was a medical support specialist for the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team [East] and York County Quick Response Team. He has 6 ½ years of flight experience and is certified in Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport. He is a past Deputy EMS Coordinator for Broome County New York, Special Operations and a sworn Peace Officer. During his 30 years in EMS he has been an educator to local and State agencies. He also has provided overseas education for NATO allies in operational medicine and extended operations care. He is a licensed Respiratory Care Practioner in Pennsylvania and was an Athletic Trainer for a variety of scholastic, collegiate, amateur and professional athletic teams. He is a Lifetime Member of the Special Operations Medical Association, associate member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.
Mr. Lovette is a retired CIA paramilitary operations officer. During his career there, he served on the staff of the very cutting edge training of this organization. He is a former Captain in the U.S. Army's Special Forces and is also a 10 year law enforcement veteran in which capacity he served as a patrol officer, sheriff's deputy and as the senior firearms and tactics instructor for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy.
Since retiring Mr. Lovette has taught kidnap avoidance techniques and evasive driving to business executives living and working in Latin America. He has developed a terrorist surveillance detection program for a Federal security agency with a significant terrorist threat. He has been involved with a variety of programs designed to enhance the security of our U.S. Embassies overseas. Most recently he has been involved with antiterrorism training programs for police officers. He played a leading role for two major companies which taught defensive driving, overseas security, surveillance detection, and many other topics. He has presented at the annual training conference of IALEFI, The Snubby Summit, and other professional events.
In addition to co-authoring Defensive Living with Dave Spaulding he is the author of The Snubby Revolver: The ECQ, Backup and Concealed Carry Standard. Mr. Lovette currently writes the Survival Savvy column for "Combat Handguns" magazine.
Chief Tactical Trainer, Police Combative Training Academy
Louis Marquez retired as a detective from the Austin, Tex. Police Department after an illustrious 24-year career. His law enforcement experience is mainly in the tactical arena where he served as a SWAT Entry Team Leader and was on the prestigious SWAT Gold Team. As an undercover operative in numerous narcotic and terrorist investigations, he spearheaded the adoption of the current APD Defensive Tactics Program and assisted with the implementation of the Tactical Firearms Curriculum. Currently, he is vice president of the Texas Defensive Tactics Instructors Association, and a master instructor for the following law enforcement programs: ASP, Taser, FIST and Sabre OC. He is a highly respected trainer and martial artist with national and international experience over 30 years, and holds black belts in 4 different disciplines and was a 7 time Gold Medallist in the Police Olympics Karate Kumite event.
Commander of Training Division, Police Combative Training Academy
Hans Marrero has a well-established and well-respected reputation for being a premier self-defense and hand-to-hand combat instructor in the United States. For over four years Sgt. Marrero (Ret.) served jointly as Chief Instructor of Hand-to-Hand Combat for the U.S. Marine Corps at Paris Island, and is considered one of the leading experts in Close Quarter Combat in the world. He is well known throughout international law enforcement agencies due to his extensive work in anti-terrorism tactics instruction during his highly decorated career as a U.S. Marine, including service in the Special Operations Group. Marrero has been inducted in the Black Belt Hall of Fame; was named "International Instructor of the Year"; and possesses Black Belts in five different disciplines of the Martial Arts including: Shorinji-Kempo (7th degree), Kyo Kushin Kai-Kan (6th degree), Aikido, Matsukazi-Ryu (Jujitsu), and Kickboxing. www.policecqb.com
Retired Police Officer/Partner, Los Angeles Police Department/R.M. McCarthy & Associates, Inc.
Ron McCarthy served as a Los Angeles police officer for 24 years. He was assigned to the department’s Tactical Unit, Metro Division, for 20 years and retired from Special Weapons and Tactics as the senior supervisor and assistant commander in 1984. Ron served as the Chief of Tactical Operations for the U.S. Department of Energy from 1984 through 1986. Ron was the Director of the Deadly Force Training Grants for the U.S. Department of Justice and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) from 1986 through 1988, and served as Manager of IACP’s Center for Advanced Police Studies from 1987 through 1992. Since 1993, Ron McCarthy has been an owner and partner of R.M. McCarthy & Associates, Inc., a Training, Consulting and Logistics Resource for Law Enforcement. Ron has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards such as the Los Angeles Police Department Medal of Valor for action against the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1975, and the Police star for the rescue of hostages in 1983.
Director of SWAT Operations and Training, Lexington Security Group, LCC
Stuart Meyers is the Chief Executive Officer of OpTac International, Inc. and the Director of SWAT Operations and Training for Lexington Security Group in the capitol of a Middle Eastern country. He is the author of the books, SWAT Fitness, A Guide To Police Sniping, and Police Sniper Administrative Policy & Training with sales worldwide. Stuart has written protocols, conducted tactical team evaluations, and taught courses throughout the world on SWAT operations, hostage rescue, tactical command, sniper operations, dignitary protection, operational fitness requirements for SWAT team personnel, police leadership, weapons training, special event security, instructor certification, and other special operations topics. Agencies he has trained include international counter-terrorist teams, US Department of Homeland Security, US Special Forces, federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Mr. David "Nark" Narkevicius is a founding member and a Senior Instructor with the Personal Security Institute (PSI), which is dedicated to the research and training of self defense skills and tactics. He has trained with numerous schools/institutes in pistol, shotgun, carbine, knife, self defense law, self defense mindset, and other personal defensive skill sets and tools. He's certified as a Concealed Carry Pistol Instructor by SigArms Academy and a founding member of the Counter Carjacking Working Group. He's also served as adjunct instructor for Pistol and Counter Carjacking courses with SigArms Academy and is Senior Instructor and a Chief Range Safety Officer for Firearms and Hunter Safety for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police. Has taught classes at TREXPO East and West conferences since 2001. He was elected to the TREXPO Advisory Board in 2006.
Mr. Narkevicius currently is serving as a Senior Staff Advisor in the Office Secretary of Defense, his previous assignments include Deputy for the Naval Aviation Interoperability in Naval Air Systems Command Headquarters, and Flight Test Engineer in Naval Air Test Center. He has been as a guest lecturer to the US Navy Fighter Weapons School, US Air Force Fighter Weapon School, Royal Air Force School of Fighter Control, US Air Force Test Pilot School, and US Navy Test Pilot School. He trained as an F/A-18 Hornet Weapons and Tactics Instructor with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One and is a graduate of the National Security Studies program and the Federal Executive Institute.
Larry Nichols President, California Rangemasters Association
Larry J. Nichols is the Senior Rangemaster/Armorer for the Burbank Police Department. With over 25 years of experience as a professional Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, Larry is internationally noted for his innovative and pioneering work in the planning, development and implementation of realistic law enforcement firearms training programs. In addition to being a published author, he is President of the California Rangemasters Association and past Regional Training Director (Region 7) of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. Certified as a Use of Force, Less-Lethal and Lethal Force Instructor, Larry has provided specialized firearms training for federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement officers. He began his firearms training in 1963 with the United States Marine Corps and is a Vietnam combat veteran with 24 months of combat experience.
Cleveland, Ohio, Police SWAT Unit (Ret.), R.J. O’Brien Group
Robert O’Brien is the founder of the R.J. O’Brien Group, Ltd., a law enforcement training and consulting service, and currently advises, forms and trains a number of SWAT and tactical teams on the local, state and federal levels. He was a co-founder of the full-time Cleveland Police SWAT Unit where he was assigned for 25 years; served three years in the U.S. Army, with an Honorable Discharge; and served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam, where he was assigned to a combat aviation battalion. Bob is a former consultant to the National Tactical Officers Association, and a former Vice President of the Ohio Tactical Officers Association. He holds a permanent instructor certification with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council, and he has been an Ohio certified instructor for 24 years.
President, Advanced Driving & Security Inc. (ADSI)
Anthony Ricci holds a Masters Degree in International Business as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Minor in Communications. He is currently the President of Advanced Driving & Security Inc, a world-renowned security driving school, as well as the Chief Instructor for the Rhode Island Motorcycle Safety Program. Formerly he was associated with The Scotti School of Defensive Driving and held the positions of Lead Instructor, Marketing Director and Northeast Facility Coordinator. Anthony has successfully trained many law enforcement agencies, government and military organizations, numerous corporations and private executive protection specialists. Anthony has been interviewed and quoted in USA Today, The Providence Journal, Combat Annual Magazine, The Robb Report, Boston - Providence Phoenix, Bottom Line Personal, many TV News Stations on Tactical Driving and Personal Protection. He has been published in Protection News and Law Enforcement Executive Forum and is currently the EVOC Editor for American Cop Magazine and the Security Driving Advisor for Counter-Terrorism International Journal. His specialized areas of instruction include Protective Driving, VIP, and Dignitary Protection, Police Instructor's Certification and Anti-Terrorist Driving. He also holds instructor certification in AAA Defensive Driving Instructor Program, National Safety Council and The Motorcycle Safety Foundation. www.1adsi.com
Founder and CEO of Sexton Executive Security, Inc.
John Sexton, CII, PPS, CST, is the Director of Training and has 29 years experience in law enforcement, non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations and various corporations. He has worked and traveled extensively throughout West and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Prior to joining the United Nations in 1994, he was a member of a counter-terrorist unit in the British Isles. He is certified as a general instructor by the Dept. of Criminal Justice Services and is an internationally trained instructor, certified by the Academy of Security Educators and Trainers and a former Board Member of A.S.E.T.
He lectures on security matters - particularly training and amongst his prestigious engagements are an address on business ethics at the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2006 and addressing the National Annual Security Conference in New Delhi, India in December, 2007. He teaches Conflict Resolution skills in Washington D.C. and as a result has testified before Board Commissioners as a subject matter expert. He teaches advanced security classes in the Commonwealth of Virginia and has been responsible for having courses added to the State’s curriculum. He is a serving Board member of the Professional Investigators and Security Association (PISA), a State wide association. He is also an Executive Board member holding the position of Secretary for the Council of International Investigators (CII) and is a member of INTELLENET, an international association of former intelligence officers.
James Stalnaker Captain, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
Jim Stalnaker has over 39 years of experience in law enforcement, but prior to becoming a law enforcement officer, he spent six years in the military, with assignments in corrections, patrol (as a detective), and the basic academy as a tactical officer. Jim’s leadership and experience includes, homicide and internal affairs, sergeant in patrol and intelligence, and a SWAT team leader in the Career Criminal/SWAT detail. As an FBI qualified sniper, he was the sniper training coordinator while a sergeant in SWAT. He has been the Executive Officer of the Training Division and was the Commander of the Narcotics/SWAT detail. Currently a patrol station commander with three patrol stations and a Type I jail facility, Jim is the author of a book entitled "Building Search Tactics for the Patrol Officer", published by Varro Press.
Thomas Alexander Stronge joined the British Army as a private soldier Combat Medical Technician in 1985 and was deployed to West Germany, serving in several Armored Field Ambulance and Primary Health Care facilities. Following his deployment on Operation Granby (Gulf War 1), Alex recognized that his future lay in provision of intimate operational medical support; he volunteered and was accepted for service with the UK Special Forces (UKSF) Medical Support Unit. With the MSU Alex served as a Squadron Medic on numerous operational deployments before moving on promotion to Sergeant to run the medical practice at the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB); here he developed a helicopter based medical service to support exercising troops and the local population.
Alex returned to UKSF on promotion and served in Training Squadron as the Chief Medical Instructor until further promotion forced a move to the wider British Army, where he served as the Sergeant Major of a recruit training unit until being granted a Captain’s commission in 2004. As a Medical Support Officer, Alex served as an Operations Officer providing Operational Medical Support to the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy deployed worldwide until volunteering and being accepted for Special Duties within in a covert intelligence role.
Following a successful operational tour in the intelligence community Alex was appointed as the inaugural Officer Commanding UKSF Medical Training. His proudest achievement during this period is the creation of the first Military Run State Registered Paramedic course in the UK. He retired from the active list on this high note to join GOR Grp (UK).
Richard Valdemar Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Retired
Richard Valdemar retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2004. For most of his 33 years with the LASD he was involved in combating L.A. Gangs. For the last 20 years he was assigned to the Detective Division, Major Crimes Bureau. In 1977-78 he was assigned to the DEA and later to the U.S. Marshals, in the "Doc Holiday - Ray Ray Browning" federal drug conspiracy case. For more than 10 years he was part of the Federal Metropolitan Gang Task Force, cross designated as an FBI agent. Since 1985 he was a member of the California (Prison) Gang Task Force. He was the "gang expert" in the RICO prosecution of the Mexican Mafia in 1995 and the RICO of 1999 as well.
Dave Young is the Director of Training - RedMan Training Division. Dave graduated from his first law enforcement academy in 1985, and now has nearly 30 years of combined civilian and military law enforcement and training experience.He was a sworn corrections and law enforcement officer in the state of Florida and has served as a gate sentry, patrol officer, watch commander, investigator, Special Reaction Team (SRT) member, Leader and Commander in the United States Marine Corps.Dave has participated in and trained both military and law enforcement personnel in crowd management operations throughout the world.Dave is recognized as one of the nation's leading defensive tactics instructors, specializing in personal survival, crowd management, non-lethal weaponry, chemical and specialty impact munitions, protocol and selection of gear and munitions, ground defense tactics, and water based defensive tactics. Dave is the founder of the Survival Management Aggressive Response Training: SMART Talk™.He is a former staff noncommissioned officer from the United States Marine Corps, Chairman of the Policeone.com Advisory Board, a member of the Police Magazine advisory board, and a Technical Advisory Board member for Force Science Research Center.Dave has been featured in national publications and magazines for his innovation and dedication to law enforcement training, and has been a spokesperson and consultant with CNN and Fox World News on officer survival and equipment safety.Dave hosted, wrote and performed all of his own stunts of a miniseries titled “Crash Test Human” and the "Thrill Zone" for Police Technology for National Geographic channel.Dave is an active member of several professional organizations not limited to International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA).
