SKIDDS & CATS
Instructors
Attorney Gene Ramirez
Manning, Marder & Ramirez
Mr. Ramirez is a founding partner of the his law firm. Mr. Ramirez specializes in defense of police misconduct and governmental tort suits in state and federal court. Mr. Ramirez has acquired significant expertise on civil liability arising out of the use of force in law enforcement, especially in the areas of tactical teams and police service dogs. Mr. Ramirez represents numerous police departments in southern California including L.A.P.D. and L.A.S.D. tactical and K-9 units. Mr. Ramirez lectures to Swat and K-9 units nationwide and is on the advisory board for N.T.O.A., C.A.T.O. and the United States Police Canine Association. Mr. Ramirez has also published several articles on police liability in numerous publications. In 1993 Mr. Ramirez was awarded Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Mr. Ramirez started his career as a police officer for Whittier Police Department and Monterey Park Police Department.
Captain Mitch Tavera
El Segundo Police Department
Captain Tavera has been a police officer for El Segundo Police Department for 26 years and has his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Captain Tavera has been on the Swat team for 18 years and is currently the Swat team commander. Captain Tavera has attended Swat schools hosted by L.A.S.D., F.B.I., I.A.C.P., and N.T.O.A. Captain Tavera is a graduate of F.B.I.'s National Academy, Class 199 and D.C.I.'s, Class 198. Captain Tavera is president of California Association of Force Instructors and is a National Law Enforcement instructor for Krav Maga.
Sergeant Bill Lewis (Retired)
Oxnard Police Department
Sgt Lewis was employed by the Oxnard Police Department since 1978 but retired in 2005. Sgt Lewis had been assigned to the Swat team for the last 25 years of his career and was one of two supervisors for Oxnards Full time Swat team. Sgt Lewis was a canine handler for 4 years and is currently the canine supervisor. In addition, Sgt Lewis serves as a Mobile Field Force Instructor, he developed Oxnards guidelines for Critical Incident Response to Schools and was recently certified as an N.T.O.A. instructor for Patrol Response to Active Shooters. Sgt. Lewis is the coordinator of the SKIDDS Challenge that was hosted in Oxnard (CA). The SKIDDS Challenge was be the first-ever competition where SWAT and K-9's compete together.
Sergeant Jay Miller
Santa Ana Police Department
Sgt Miller has been a police officer for the last 26 years and a member of the Swat team for the last 21 years. During this time Sgt Miller spent 10 years as a patrol and Swat dog handler. Sgt Miller is currently assigned to Patrol Sergeant after spending several years working a major narcotics task force. Sgt Miller has attended several Advanced Swat schools and negotiation courses through P.O.S.T., N.T.O.A. and the F.B.I.
Sergeant Lane Critser
Utah County Sheriff's Department, Utah
Sergeant Critser is a K9 Unit Supervisor with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. His duties include police service dog handler, field training officer and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team leader. Lane is a Utah County SWAT Team Leader, one of six team leaders managing a 46-member multi-jurisdiction SWAT team. He is responsible for developing and conducting a five-day, 80-hour, SWAT selection course that is held annually and administered by SWAT team leaders.
Lane developed the SWAT team policy and procedure for the multi-jurisdictional team and is responsible for managing and implementing training guidelines, training records and equipment purchases for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
He is a Patrol/Narcotic and SWAT Dog Instructor/Judge for Utah POST. His experience as a Dog Handler has been from 1988-2006 where he worked a single purpose narcotics detection dog and two dual-purpose patrol, narcotics and SWAT dogs. His duties also include in-house and basic training of a seven-member police service dog unit for the Utah County Sheriff Office and miscellaneous dogs and handlers from the region.
Lane was a WPO Judge at the Internationale Polizei Meisterschaft in Hannover, Germany in 2000. Lane has trained local, state, federal and military agencies and handlers from North America, South America and Western Europe. Lane is an Adjunct Instructor for Utah POST, and International Police K9.
Sergeant Steve Trujillo
Ontario Police Department
Sgt Trujillo has been a police officer for 22 years and has 19 years of Swat experience. Sgt Trujillo has been a sniper, team leader and a team supervisor. Sgt Trujillo has attended numerous advance Swat and Use of Force seminars. Sgt Trujillo is a Medal of Valor recipient for his actions during a hostage rescue incident. Sgt Trujillo is a contract instructor for ITR, ASLET, and CNOA. Sgt Trujillo is also an instructor for active shooters, use of force, patrol tactics, chemical agents, diversionary devices, less lethal, impact weapons and weaponless defense.
Sergeant CR Smith (Retired)
South Gate Police Department
Sgt. Smith was a police officer for South Gate Police Department for 27 years and a Sergeant for 12 years. During his career Sgt Smith was a canine handler for 7 years and a Canine Supervisor for 8 years. Sgt. Smith has been a canine instructor at Adlerhorst Kennels, in Riverside, California for 23 years. Sgt Smith has taught thousands of police officers throughout the United States. Sgt Smith has been a judge at numerous police K-9 Trials in California, Arizona and Nevada. Sgt Smith has even traveled to Europe to select dogs for police service, here in the United States.
Sergeant Eduardo Jany
Monroe Police Department, Washington State
Sgt Jany has been in law enforcement for 20 years. Sgt Jany was a dog handler, Swat team member and Swat and K-9 Supervisor for the last 12 years. Sgt Jany has instructed Swat and K-9 tactics throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. In addition to Sgt Jany's normal duties at Monroe PD, Sgt Jany is a Lt Col. in the United States Marine Corps. Lt Col. Jany was activated after September 11th and was part of a reconnaissance and intelligence unit. Prior to becoming a Marine, Lt Col. Jany spent 14 years in the United States Army as a member of the Army's elite Army Special Forces. Lt Col. Jany is Fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Because of Sgt Jany's police and military experience he frequently leads and instructs military and police units in Latin America in tactical operations.
Lt Tommy Garcia
West Covina Police Department
Lt. Garcia has been a police officer for the last 27 years and a Swat member for the last 24 years. Lt. Garcia has been a sniper, scout, back-up, assistant team leader, team leader and Commander. Lt. Garcia is a range master, MP5 instructor, H&K armorer instructor, pepper spray instructor and entry diversionary device instructor. California P.O.S.T. considers Lt Garcia a Subject Matter Expert in tactics and firearms. Because of this Lt. Garcia has traveled all over the United States and Europe.
Cpl Don Mitchell
Ontario Police Department
Cpl Mitchell has been an Ontario police officer for the last 20 years. During this time he has spent the last 9 years as a patrol and Swat dog handler as well as a member of his department Swat team for the last 15 years. Cpl Mitchell is also one of his departments weaponless defense and impact weapons instructors. Cpl Mitchell is also the founder and past president of the Inland Empire Police K-9 Association.
Corporal Phil Geisler
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Geisler has been a deputy for the last 30 years. During his 9 years as a canine handler Deputy Geisler became very experienced in testifying at the state and federal court level regarding civil lawsuits. After his 9 years as a K-9 handler Deputy Geisler transferred to the Special Weapons team known as S.E.B. During the last 9 years with S.E.B., Deputy Geisler has been assigned to gas, entry and sniper team. He has trained with Navy Seals, Air Borne, Special Forces and Marines. Because of his expertise Deputy Geisler has traveled throughout the United States teaching canine and Swat tactics.
Ken Pavlick (Retired)
Canyon County Sheriff's Department, Idaho
Ken Pavlick was been in law enforcement for 17 years. Ken was a dog handler for 5 years for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department (CA). Ken then moved to Idaho where he was the trainer and supervisor for a 13 dog canine unit for Canyon County Sheriff's Department. Ken was also a Swat team member for Riverside Co and Canyon Co. Ken has been a judge, guest speaker and instructor in the United States and Canada. Ken currently owns Pacific Coast K9's.
Officer Glen Anderson
Rialto Police Department
Officer Anderson started in law enforcement in 1993 with Arcadia PD then transferred to Rialto PD in 1997. Officer Anderson became a K-9 handler in 1999 and a Swat team member in 2000. Officer Anderson is currently the senior Swat team member, assistant team leader and K9 handler. Officer Anderson became his departments first K-9 Swat dog handler as well a Swat team member for entries, scout and grenadier. Officer Anderson is the President of the Inland Empire Police Canine Association and has served as Vice President and Training Coordinator. Officer Anderson is a current member of NTOA and has published several articles for N.T.O.A. Officer Anderson is a POST certified K-9 evaluator and he is certified by N.T.O.A. to instruct active shooter classes for first responders. Officer Anderson was nominated to the California POST Blue Ribbon Commission on K9 Swat tactics.
Corporal Jeff Munn
West Covina Police Department
Cpl Munn has been a police officer for 12 years and member of the Swat team for 10 years. Cpl Munn is a range master, and is an instructor in AR-15, MP-5, Glock armorer, Rappel Master and Force Options Instructor. Cpl Munn has attended several advanced Swat Schools through LAPD and ITR. Prior to his law enforcement career Cpl Munn was a tactical instructor for the Marine Corp, teaching Military Operations in Urban Training (MOUT) and was the primary instructor for the (HRST) Helicopter Rope and Suspension Training Course. Cpl Munn has taught over 100 agencies while in the military and law enforcement.
Officer Scott Fitzgerald
Santa Clara Police Department
Officer Fitzgerald has been employed with the Santa Clara Police Department for over 17 years. His duties include being a K-9 handler and Special Response Team (SRT) member. He began handling a patrol/narcotics K-9 in 1995 and became a SRT team member in 1996. Since 1996 he has developed the SWAT dog program for his department and is currently handling his second dog on the SRT team. Along with his role on the team, he is also a California POST certified chemical agents instructor and a POST certified less-lethal instructor for extended range impact weapons. Scott is a Utah POST certified SWAT dog instructor and judge, as well as a California POST certified K-9 evaluator. Scott developed the current K-9 policy his department is using, as well as several courses for in-house and ongoing training for patrol personnel. Scott has also instructed, around the country, at several International Police K-9 conferences.
Corporal Brad Smith
West Covina Police Department
Corporal Smith has been a police officer since 1981, a canine handler for 20 years and was a SWAT dog handler for 18 years.
Corporal Smith is the founder of Canine Tactical Operations & Consulting or K9TacOps for short. Corporal Smith provides consulting services to law enforcement on K-9 related issues such as: dog and handler selection, oral boards, training, report writing, policy, case law, use of force, deployment tactics for K-9 patrol deployments and K-9 SWAT operations.
Corporal Smith has provided Expert Witness Testimony and consulting to attorneys in criminal and civil cases regarding K-9 and K-9 SWAT deployments in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana and New Mexico.
Cpl Smith also provides, basic & advanced CAnine Tactical Schools (CATS) for K-9 handlers and SWAT & K-9 Interaction During Deployment School (S.K.I.D.D.S.) for SWAT teams and K-9 units.
Corporal Smith is currently N.T.O.A.'s National Canine Chairman and Subject Matter Expert for C.A.T.O.'s (California Association of Tactical Officers) on K-9 Swat Deployment. Officer Smith has taught thousands of officers throughout the United States, Brazil and Canada. When asked I also do expert witness testimony on K-9 and K-9 SWAT related issues.
Corporal Smith has been working with California P.O.S.T. to update the Safety Guidelines for all classes certified by POST as well as working on K-9 SWAT certifications for canines that deploy with SWAT. Officer Smith is also on the K-9 subcommittee for the SWAT Operational guidelines.
He has been published in numerous publications on Canine SWAT Deployment and training. Some of these publications include: Tactical Edge, Tactical Response, Police K9 Magazine, Law & Order, Illinois Tactical Officer Association, Law Officer Magazine, Wisconsin Law Officer Canine Handler Association, Dog Sport, C.A.T.O. and Police Magazine.
Corporal Smith is a graduate of P.O.S.T.'s Master Instructor Development Program (Class #5) where he designed and implemented the first and only P.O.S.T. approved canine Swat school in California and now Arizona.
Corporal Smith has competed internationally as well as regionally in numerous police canine competitions. He has won over 60 awards including 6 Grand Championships, 4 Reserve Grand Championships and 4 Top Agencies. Officer Smith has also traveled to Europe and selected K-9's of his department and other departments.
Corporal Smith has also traveled to Brazil on 4 occasions to teach the Brazilian State Military Police canine units.
