I often receive e-mail notifications of tactical pistol training courses from Suarez Intl. and mentioned the fact that there were several courses this summer in Youngstown, Ohio (probably 90 minutes from Columbus) while at the counter at the range the other day.  The owner happened to be standing there, and interjected his opinion of Gabe Suarez with a smirk, made reference to him as a convicted felon who's wife has to buy all his guns, & other derogatory comments.  The only reason I go to that range is it's close, the employees are great guys, but the owners are dicks.  So, I didn't opt for more enlightenment from him on the subject.  Any insight here?

A friend with AWG referred me to Suarez for some training.  I'll see if I can get some detailed info from him but he should be at the hospital with his wife popping out the fourth kid so it may take a while.

E-95

found this
forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=5389&page=3

looks like Gabe got shafted by his own dept

Did some more digging after speed reading through the link you provided and came up with this:

Former Officer Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges By Teresa Rochester Sept. 27 -- A former Santa Monica police officer has pleaded guilty to Workers Compensation fraud, money laundering and grand theft and will begin serving a year-long jail sentence for the crimes next week. Gabriel Saurez, a decorated 12-year veteran of the SMPD, will report to Los Angeles County Jail to begin serving his sentence on Monday as part of a plea agreement reached last week in Los Angeles County Criminal Court. Saurez, who recently resigned from the force, also was sentenced to five years probation. Saurez, his wife Cheryl Saurez and Officer Jason Comer pleaded not guilty in April to charges of conspiracy, Workers Compensation fraud and grand theft. Saurez also faced two additional fraud charges. Like her husband, Cheryl Saurez agreed to plea guilty during last Friday's hearing. She was ordered to serve one day in jail and also was sentenced to five years probation. Comer's charges were dropped in June, and he remains on paid leave pending the conclusion of an administrative investigation, according to Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. As part of the agreement, the charges of conspiracy against the Suarezes were dismissed, as were the two additional counts of Workers Compensation filed against Gabriel Saurez, said DA spokesperson Sandi Gibbons. The Saurezes paid a $100 fine and $112, 250.01 in restitution on Friday, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Ellen St. John. Chief Butts said Saurez's plea was a testament to the "hard work, time and effort that the risk management and our criminal division officers have put into this case. "The good thing is the City of Santa Monica has received full restitution for all wages that were paid in this fraudulent claim," Butts said. "The jail sentence that was imposed by the judge sent a strong message that this type of misconduct will not be tolerated by the City of Santa Monica," Gabriel Suarez allegedly worked as a gun tactics trainer while receiving Workers Compensation for a slip and fall accident in the SMPD's locker room in 1999. Cheryl Suarez allegedly received payments for work done by her husband through a company she never worked for. The dismissed charges against Comer were based on allegations that he received and disbursed money for Saurez. The Saurez case stemmed from a long-term investigation of Workers Compensation fraud within the police department launched late last year by the department, the District Attorneys Office and the State Department of Insurance. The investigation also has resulted in charges filed against Officer Richard Robert Brulato, who pleaded not guilty in June to two counts of Workers Compensation Fraud. Butts said the investigation is "definitely ongoing. "We have other cases we are actively looking at and investigating. Fortunately at this point those cases are few," said Butts adding that they would be vigorously pursued. Copyright ©1999, 2000, 2001 surfsantamonica.com. All Rights Reserved.

E-95

I would train with Gabe.  I had the chance to meet him and talk with him for a while a few months ago. He is a good guy and offers great training. I think everyone does stupid things, he got caught and paid the price. He is doing some good stuff now, and I think everyone deserves a second chance. Just my thoughts.

Suarez threads usually get pretty heated here.

one camp thinks he's a criminal douche with a worthless training program.  A SWAT magazine article last year (IIRC) did him in in a lot of people's eyes.

second camp thinks he got screwed over in his court case.  That his course is actually very good and that the SWAT article was a hit piece with an agenda.


take your pick.

edited for grammar

I know some people who I respect who think highly of him.  I've also heard some really good things about his training.

He's not a felon.  He took a plea deal for a misd to avoid a possible felony conviction.  

As I understand the story, he was cleared to resume teaching and suddenly found out awhile later that he wasn't supposed to be doing active things and as a result, got charged.  He said that he thought it was ok.  I have not seen any of the real paperwork on the case and you know how rumors spread on the 'net.  

I'd train with him if I had the chance.

That SWAT article was widely discredited awhile back.  A lot of people on another forum cleared that up.  I can't remember the author but he lacked credibility.  It's SWAT magazine for crying out loud.  Not exactly a trade publication!!!!  I peruse SWAT magazine from time to time but it doesn't really impress me too much.

I'd train with Suarez if I had the chance.  I've heard a lot of good things from those who have gone to his classes.

I'm not any sort of high speed low drag operator, but I've trained at Thunder Ranch, Gunsite, Sigarms Academy, and with Givens, Farnam and Hoffner as well as local (Houston) trainers. After two courses with Suarez I have to say I learned a lot of stuff I haven't gotten elsewhere and the man makes you think.

Some of what I learned I'll use and some I won't, but Gabe always has a reason for everything he teaches, he's willing to test his ideas against those of his students using Airsoft FOF, and he's incredibly willing to consider ideas from his students rather than just defend his doctrines.

I guess I don't care what his background is as long as I learn something I can use to help me.

I'm signed up for a third Suarex class this fall (Extreme Close Range Gunfighting) and I'm looking forward to it.

Where is that extreme close ranfge gunfighting class?

Quoted: -snip- I'm signed up for a third Suarex class this fall (Extreme Close Range Gunfighting) and I'm looking forward to it.

You joined arfcom 5 years ago, and this is your first post?  

I'd be curious what the record is for longest membership without posting (not counting the people who simply don't post).

To get the most out of any Suarez course first buy one of his related DVDs. Get the biggest bang for you buck by understanding his objectives/expectations and drills in advance, before you show up. Practice in advance. Spend your time refining the material with Gabe. The courses are physically demanding. Be in good physical condition. Go with an open mind and lots of questions.

I found Gabe’s material to be an excellent evolution of the material taught at the traditional square range schools. The FOF with Airsoft is a sobering eye opener. Make sure you roll with your carry rig and work from concealment if you’re a CCW. Gabe does his best to keep the training real. Don’t show up Dukie unless you actually carry that way.

An excellent cross section of shooters will show up. Competition, LEO, Joe Nobody, etc. You will discover your personal and equipment strengths and deficiencies. You'll learn a great deal by watching others work through drills and scenarios. Have fun and be safe.

I don't understand sometime why people want the instructors that train them to be F'n saints or something...  I mean come on... I want to be trained by someone who knows his stuff, teaches mindset, and if maybe he has capped a bad guy or two or been in the crap storm that is a gun fight... then that is ok with me.
I could give a crap about the charges he has... and anyway he paid like 112K and did a year in jail... And anyway, how will his charges in any way impact your training?  Not one freakin bit.
I have never taken a class from him... I hope to in the near future.... but I dont base my training selection on something that has nothing to do with me getting top notch training.
If I wanted a saint to teach me how to be civil in a gun fight I would go to Mr. Flanders... I choose to go to someone who teaches mindset and aggressive action.
Anthony

Quoted: I don't understand sometime why people want the instructors that train them to be F'n saints or something...  I mean come on... I want to be trained by someone who knows his stuff, teaches mindset, and if maybe he has capped a bad guy or two or been in the crap storm that is a gun fight... then that is ok with me. I could give a crap about the charges he has... and anyway he paid like 112K and did a year in jail... And anyway, how will his charges in any way impact your training?  Not one freakin bit. I have never taken a class from him... I hope to in the near future.... but I dont base my training selection on something that has nothing to do with me getting top notch training. If I wanted a saint to teach me how to be civil in a gun fight I would go to Mr. Flanders... I choose to go to someone who teaches mindset and aggressive action. Anthony

The issues arise because in the event you shoot someone and said "non saint" instructor is brought in, it could negatively affect your case. Or so has been said.

Has anyone taken one of their classes taught by Jack Rumbaugh?

He's teaching a couple classes in VA over the next couple months I'm considering. Decent classes less than an hour from home are rare.