For a little over twenty-five years, I was an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. After seventeen years of working various patrol assignments throughout the San Fernando Valley and South Central Los Angeles, I was transferred to the Firearms Training Unit where I taught both in-service officers, and brand new recruits — many of whom had never held a gun before. I was fortunate to be in the unit at a time when firearms training had begun to transition away from slower bullseye shooting, to a more practical style of shooting where both speed AND accuracy matter. As one of the head instructors, I was entrusted with overhauling the 119 hour LAPD recruit firearms curriculum to include Pistol Mounted Optic instruction with a more modern, drill based approach. It was around this time that I also became an instructor at the elite Sierra Element firearms school, lead by my friend, mentor, and training partner, Victor Lopez.

My final assignment with the LAPD was in the Patrol Rifle and Tactical Shotgun Unit where I taught rifle, shotgun, and pistol mounted optics to in-service officers. In addition to my teaching experience with the LAPD, I am also an active Master class USPSA competitor, Certified Range Officer, and retired sanctioned amateur Muay Thai fighter.

I feel extremely fortunate to have gained a lot of knowledge in the ring, on the streets, and during matches. I look forward to passing on what I’ve learned to those who have the desire to put in some work and train as if their life depends on it — because it may.

Respectfully,

Sammy Briggs