Well, Here we go Again....from Gabe

[Ed Ely]

Well here we go again. After last year, I knew it would only be a mater of time. The headline is "Police chiefs call for ban on assault weapons". The International Association of Chiefs of Police (one of the most left-wing, liberal, of police groups) urged Congress to pass "an effective assault weapons ban".

This will probably be followed up by a call for universal fingerprinting, DNA collecting, and tracking collars being issued to anyone they deem is "a person of interest". These things would certainly make the cop job safer, but who the hell wants to live like that?


While we certainly respect the difficult job police officers do (often not helped one bit by chiefs like this), making their jobs easier is not the focus of life in America.

We have shown in our research that the laws infringing on the Second Ammendment will do nothing to prevent violent crime. The law has, and always will fail. Do you know why? Its because only the good guys obey the law. Its already against the law for certain bad guys to even posses a gun, yet they do it anyway. how is taking an AK out of your hands, going to make the world safer for Officer Friendly? It is not. This is simply another attempt by the com-libs to curtail your freedom. I would ask why the police is so afraid of civilian good guys being armed?

So what are we going to do - Other than the usual admonition to vote "Guns" in November?

S.I. will be working closely with Custom Kalashnikov-smiths to see about getting as many AKs in the hands of private citizens as possible in the next 13 months. We will see about doing the same with the AR-15 system. Our rifle-smith Jim Fuller and I have been discussing the optimization of the AR platform for similar use and we will publish more on that soon. We will keep a running stock of magazines for both platforms available so we will get as many high-capacity magazines out there in your hands as human ly possible. And we will be making the information on how to fight with these weapons available to every good guy on the planet. We will do this via our newsletter, our internet forum www.warriortalk.com. and via several DVDs which we will be shooting next month. Other than offering free training (which I wish we could do) I can't think of anything else to foil the plans of the left and the IACP.

Remember armed men are free ONLY because they are armed. Those who beat their swords into plows, end up doing the plowing for those who kept their swords sharp and pointy.__________________

Gabe Suarez
Suarez International USA, Inc.
One Source Tactical
info@suarezinternational.com
Office 928-776-4492

Blessed be the Lord my rock
Who trains my hands for war
And my fingers for battle

Psalm 144:1

FYI

Ed

[Dhunter55]

Assault weapons have been a hot topic lately in South Florida since the shooting of 4 LEO, one of which was killed, by an AK. There have been a few robberies reported on where the BG was armed with an AK. There have been several stories about gangs and their new weapon of choice is the AK. I saw a news interview the other night where a Miami police Captain stated that assault rifles were only supposed to be in the hands of the military. Two South Florida counties are purchasing ARs for their deputies because they feel they are now "out gunned" by the BG because they all have AKs. This is only going to get much worse.

[speedracer211]

What about the nonrth hollywood shootout where the cops went to local gunstores to borrow "assault weapons"... Had those not been available to the public they would not have been in the gun shop for those cops to obtain.

[AZXD]

If the sear hasn't been modified, does an AK meet the requirements of the ATF definition for an assault rifle?
Trivial point, but I am curious.

[PackerfanXD]

Sight bookmarked for later inspection.

[retired]

Ed, tho I agree with his viewpoint on the IACOP liberal views, that would be the only thing I'd accept from him.

As I mentioned in another thread, are you aware that Gabe is a former Santa Monica leo who was convicted of worker's comp fraud and theft. With all of the other excellent instructors out there, he isn't one I'd generally listen to.

He was actually charged with felonies, but accepted a plea bargain, as did his wife, and was convicted of misdemeanors. He did some time in L.A. County Jail around the time I was a Sgt. I don't know which facility he was in tho. He also had to pay $112K in restitution.

Here is a link to the article written in Santa Monica about his case. Also, if you google: Gabe Suarez' conviction for grand theft and worker's compensation fraud," you will get a number of interesting reads.

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.
Link to article: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_s...ud_Charges.htm

I realize this article is copyrighted and my intent is not to make any profit off of it, but to merely permit members here, who are interested, to read an article concerning someone who they might not know the full story of.

[Bycyclist]

And here his Gabe's side of the story. I'd suggest you folks read this before judging the man:

http://www.warriortalk.com/showthrea...Gabe%27s+Story

[bama]

retired,
You seem to have a real burr under your saddle regarding Suarez. When I mentioned him here some time ago, you responded with exactly the same thing. You have never met him, and know little more than what the newspaper says.

I know the man. I have trained with him several times. He was a victor in several gun fights as a cop, and is now a gifted trainer. He freely admits he is a sinner (as should all of us), and is now a strong voice for what he calls the "Christian Warrior". If you choose to continue to focus on old history instead of current situations, it is your loss. I know that I certainly have things in my past that I wouldn't want constantly discussed, to the exclusion of what I do now. I think you should cease dredging up a past in an attempt to dissuade people from training with a great teacher.

[Tungsten]

Originally Posted by Bycyclist

And here his Gabe's side of the story. I'd suggest you folks read this before judging the man:

http://www.warriortalk.com/showthrea...Gabe%27s+Story

An account on his forum is required to view the post in question. Maybe you could just copy and paste it here.

[bama]

Originally Posted by Gabe Suarez

Gabe's Story

---

Gents,

I am teaching some pretty controversial stuff. I am also, with the help of many here, moving the art into areas that make many traditional forces uncomfortable. Moreover, I routinely challenge many to "shut up and show" that their stuff works. I owe no allegiance to any school nor to any teacher, and thus my focus is on teaching my guys to win the fight with whatever it takes.

There are those who don’t like this. Since attacking what I teach makes no sense, they attack me, hoping that by doing so my methods will be found unsound. It’s a tactic I’ve seen in other industries. Its no secret that I had a very ugly time with my former police agency (you’ll hear more about that in a moment). Whether true or not, does it have anything to do with the combat validity of my classes? That thinking would also mean that if Mas Oyama had ties to the Yakuza that Kyokushinkai is not a valid fighting art. Doesn’t make much sense does it?

Nonetheless, that is the only weapon they have left. The truth is the only answer to that tactic. I’ve never written about this before, but perhaps now its time. I am not totally without fault here, and yes, knowing what I know now I’d do it differently, but I did not do anything to be ashamed of, nor to apologize to anyone for.

Certain events got out of control during a difficult time and there was, as the spooks say, some “blowback”. This eventually will be the basis of a chapter in the book I’m working on. I’ll tell the tale and let the reader decided for himself.

I’d been working as a cop for quite a while. I worked physically, meaning that I saw my job as an opportunity to deploy against the bad guys and not as anything else. As a result of several years of this, I incurred a number of injuries ranging from broken hands, fingers and toes, to injuries requiring knee surgery and so on. In addition I had several back injuries from crashes, fights, and other really fun stuff. It was this last one that caused me to rethink my choice in careers.

I awoke one morning in such pain I had to go to the doctor. My low back felt as if there was a knife in it. X-rays, and MRIs showed a compression fracture of vertebrae as well as two bulged discs, one with a tear, all in the lumbar region. Bad JuJu. The doc said surgery for the back and retirement or end up in a wheelchair. I chose the retirement option, without surgery if possible. The injury was work-related and I was entitled to benefits.

I was officially off duty and on worker’s comp benefits for almost a year, while the docs tried to fix me, and the lawyers worked to retire me. I realized I would need an income after it was all said and done. I’d already been teaching for several years, first at Front Sight and then at a couple of other places. It was a lucrative and viable way to make a living. Not being particularly patient, I asked the doctor if teaching firearms classes was OK. He said, “As long as you are not out doing a police job or working as a bouncer, its just fine”. I checked with the WC attorney. He said the same.

You might ask why I already had an attorney. At that time in that place anytime you did anything out of the ordinary you always got an attorney. Such was the adversarial relationship between management and the line officers. Lots of distrust there, not all unfounded.

Armed with the approval of my team, I began teaching again. It wasn’t easy (downright painful at times), but it got better as time went by. I went on building the business I’d rely on after retirement. This went on from March to November of that year. Not once was I told to stop, questioned, nor contacted by my agency at all. As I look back, had I simply sat at home eating ice cream none of what followed would have happened.

I must point out here that I was never a ladder-climber nor a suck-butt at the department. I was not above telling a lieutenant that he was an idiot, or refusing to work with officers I thought were cowards. My job was to actively seek out and confront the bad guys, and I had no tolerance of anyone who either got in my way or who did not share my views. Mistakes? Sure, but it was what it was. As a result I incurred a few enemies in high positions.

Another issue is that you cannot build a business in secret. I was quite clear and up front about what I was doing and advertised classes on the internet and by mail. When my adversaries in power learned what I was doing, they saw an opening to do me harm and spared no expense to accomplish their goals. They put together a case against me in size and scope rivaling cases I’d seen for multiple murders.

I got a call late one night from a good friend (now working overseas) giving me a “heads up” about what was to befall me. If you’ve ever had one of those turning point moments in life after which everything is different, you know what I mean when I say this was one of those.

To make a long story short, my agency had put together a case charging me with worker’s comp fraud, along with a litany of other high crimes ranging from money laundering to just about everything except maybe piracy on the high seas and shooting JFK himself. It’s a common tactic to stack charge upon charge so that at least something will stick.

I went to another type of attorney now…a criminal defense attorney. A man I would have sneered at a year earlier was now my best friend.

I was officially charged with being an “official bad guy” in March. They charged my wife as well hoping we’d set against each other and make their job easier. That part of their plan failed. My wife is a tough and noble lady. When I say in the dedication of a book that I have put her through the best and the worst, I meant it.

A quick note on tactics. During this time, I heard the comment, “Any prosecutor can convict a guilty man, it takes a really good one to convict an innocent man”. These whole events are driven by numbers and politics. Its about conviction records and promotability and not about seeking the truth. At one point the prosecutor said this was a civil case and refused to prosecute it. The good folks at my agency took it higher and made him prosecute it. No animosity there. We kept fighting, and paying, and I soon realized the more money you put on the table for defense, the more money they put on the table for offense. You cannot outspend the same people who tax you.

We spent all of 2001 not knowing what the next week would hold. Court appearances cost money and our reserves were dwindling. One night, I determined to bring it to a point of conclusion. I won’t go into details. Some of you know the story. Some of you knowing me can probably guess. The Holy Spirit intercepted me. I fell on my knees and in tears prayed to God for help. No matter how strong you are, eventually you face something stronger than you. Its at that point many will seek God. That is how it was for me.

Things began to happen. Up to that point we were preparing to go to trail. I saw the prospect of my family being bankrupt in order to vindicate me. Losing everything even if we won. It seemed such a waste.

One morning I got a call from my attorney. The prosecutor had been offered a job with private firm and resigned overnight. The new prosecutor saw the same thing that it was a civil case and didn’t want to spend a lot of time on it. The possibility of a deal was presented. Until then I was prepared to fight, but the opening looked enticing. To conclude the case we were offered the option of pleading guilty to misdemeanors, paying a sizeable fine, and doing a few months of confinement. After that it was over. Period.

My attorney said that given the cost of trials, the animosity shown against police officers in that place, how aggressively my agency was hunting me, and the risks losing, the deal was a sure bet compared to an unknown ending. I was later told that only innocent people plead in order to limit the damage, and that guilty ones always go to trail because they have nothing to lose. I’m not sure if that is exactly true, but it describes the mood of the times.

In the end, I decided that leaving the battlefield with what I had left made much more sense that gambling it all, risking a loss, just to say I was right. I knew enough about trials to know how they work and a sure bet was a better bet. Perhaps it was a little cowardly, or perhaps it was a little wisdom, but I took the deal.

I plead guilty to a misdemeanor, paid fines, and did seven months in a small room by myself. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. While “inside” I spent my days exercising, reading the Bible straight through three times, and devised business plans. I made good use of my time, knowing that my ordeal, thanks to God’s help, was all downhill from there.

Today, I live a blessed life. I have a very successful business. I do what I love for a profession. I travel all over the world to strange, distant, and often dangerous places. I still have my family and my wonderful wife. I live in what amounts to a paradise. I know it was the wise decision. I thank God for using the event to reveal Himself to me, for showing me His power, and for getting me through the darkest time in my life.

So there it is. That is the full deal story.