Chapter 71 – "Gun Knowledge and Confidence"
Tuesday – 5:48 p.m. – Mid-Wilshire Police Training Room
The clock on the wall read almost six o'clock, but the police training room was as lively as ever. Folding chairs had been arranged in rows in front of a long tactical table, where the equipment Gustavo had brought from home was carefully laid out. Each item had been cleaned, inspected, and positioned with pinpoint precision a direct reflection of the level of attention to detail he applied to everything he did.
On the left side of the table were three different types of holsters, with notes on the pros and cons of each. Next to them was a Glock 19 Gen 5 equipped with a Surefire X300 Ultra tactical flashlight and a holographic sight mounted on a custom slide. In the center was an HK416 with full tactical configuration: adjustable Magpul stock, vertical grip, two-point sling, EOTech EXPS3 scope with G33 magnifier, and a Surefire Scout Light.
Further along were two plate carriers one of which was the one Gustavo used when he trained with SWAT personnel, with pockets for magazines, a first aid kit, and a CAT tourniquet attached to the left shoulder strap. In the corner were two Ops Core helmets with NVG mounts and counterweights.
But it wasn't just the equipment that drew attention. Next to the table, Gustavo had set up an easel with printed slides from presentations he had used in internal DOD courses, as well as folders and copies of technical manuals on assembly, zeroing sights, and proper use of holsters in combat.
The door to the room opened, and the first to enter was Angela Lopez, dressed in civilian clothes but with her usual watchful eyes. She greeted Gustavo with a knowing smile.
— "It looks like a Crye Precision store in here."
Gustavo laughed, squaring his shoulders.
— "Almost. But here, everything has a reason. You know that."
Shortly after them, Sergeant Grey and Captain Zoe Anderson entered, both already aware of what they were about to see, but visibly impressed with the level of organization. Zoe walked over to the table, observing each item carefully.
— "You took this class very seriously, Silva."
— "Every well-equipped officer is a safer officer, Captain," he replied seriously. "And better prepared to protect others."
Grey nodded.
— "I already liked the beginning."
Soon the others began to enter: Tim Bradford, wearing his tactical jacket as if it were an extension of his body. Talia Bishop, with a notebook already open in her hands. Then, about eight police officers from the house, from different groups: some new, others with years of patrol. Sergeant Jenkins, a twenty-year veteran, took a seat next to Bishop. Even a few curious administrative civilians passed by the back of the room to take a look.
6:02 p.m. – Gustavo takes the floor
He picked up the remote control and turned off the front lights, leaving the side spotlights on, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
— "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here. I know we're all tired after work, but this class is for you. For our safety. Our efficiency. Our lives and the lives of those who are with us."
He paused and looked around at everyone in the room.
— "This is a community class. That means I'm not the instructor and you're the students. Here, the idea is to share what I know, listen to what you know, and, together, come out better. Anyone who wants to ask questions, raise their hand, or interrupt is more than welcome."
Angela crossed her arms and smiled, visibly proud.
— "First topic: holsters."
Gustavo approached the table, picking up a Kydex holster with a snap lock.
— "Holsters are like shoes. They have to fit well and not be uncomfortable. But unlike shoes, a poorly chosen holster can cost you your life."
He explained the types in detail: paddle, internal, external, with mechanical lock, with friction retention. He showed videos of quick release, and mentioned brands he used — Safariland, G-Code, T.Rex Arms.
— "Avoid nylon holsters without a structure. They are cheap, yes. But they bend when tensioned. I've seen guns fire because the trigger got caught on the edge of the poorly molded nylon."
Bradford, from the second row, raised his hand.
— "What about holsters with an index finger lock?"
Gustavo picked one up, turning toward him.
— "I avoid it. Because the risk of keeping your finger on the trigger when drawing is high. I prefer models with a thumb lock or passive retention with good adjustment."
After 20 minutes only about holsters, he moved on to the part about weapons and sights. He showed the flashlight attached to his Glock, and explained how it helped save Lopez in a real incident.
— "The difference between illuminating someone's face and identifying a weapon, or shooting the wrong person, can be here," — he said, turning on the flashlight with a precise click.
He demonstrated the use of the holographic sight with magnifier, talked about the concept of parallax, zeroing the sight at 25 and 50 yards, and the importance of practicing target transitions with both eyes open.
Angela interrupted, reinforcing:
— "He showed me this technique a few weeks ago. Since then, my accuracy has improved in movement. And I thought I was already good."
There was laughter. But the mood was one of respect.
7:05 p.m. – Practical part
Gustavo invited those present to come to the table. One by one, he handed the equipment to each one. Deacon, from SWAT, had lent them targets used in the team's last simulation. They used the wooden supports to demonstrate shooting positions, differences in aiming with and without a magnifier, and also how to change positions in an urban environment.
He also demonstrated basic transition techniques from long to short weapons, explained how to use the tourniquet without help, and gave a brief introduction to the concept of stacking in tactical entry just conceptual, without tactical invasion.
7:50 p.m. – Closing and comments
Gustavo turned off the projector, sweat on his forehead and his sleeves rolled up. The audience applauded, and the energy in the room was contagious. Zoe approached him.
— "If you want to turn this into an ongoing program… you have my support."
Grey patted him on the shoulder.
— "We've never had a class with this level of detail here. Impressive."
Talia smiled at him.
— "When are you going to teach the part about hand-to-hand combat?"
Gustavo laughed.
— "If you want, next week. I can put together something focused on police self-defense, based on Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu."
Bradford said, in a teasing tone:
— "Even better. Teach Lopez how not to break a suspect's arm just by looking at him."
Angela crossed her arms, mocking.
— "I'm only not breaking yours because it's a colleague's, Bradford."
More laughter.
Gustavo looked around. At that moment, he saw not only colleagues, but a community. Police officers who were committed, attentive, and who trusted him.
And he knew: this was just the beginning.
Chapter 72 – "Instinct and Technique"
Saturday – 8:05 AM – Mid-Wilshire Division Training Gym
The smell of tatami mats mixed with the rhythmic sound of the officers warming up filled the air. Morning light streamed through the tall windows of the Mid-Wilshire police station gym, creating beams that cut through dust particles suspended in the air. This was Gustavo's second community class. And now, it wasn't just curious looks: it was real anticipation.
In the center of the court, Gustavo Silva was finishing stretching his arms while talking to Angela Lopez. Both wore unmarked black t-shirts and tactical pants, their feet bare on the navy blue mat.
"Did you sleep well?" Angela asked, with a slight smile on her face as she stretched her neck.
"As much as possible. I stayed up late reviewing the content. I wanted to build the class based on real situations that we go through."
She nodded.
— "Are you going to show me that knife thing?"
Gustavo smirked.
— "Today there's going to be a little bit of everything. Hand-to-hand combat, weapon retention, knife combat, and defense against attempts to pull the weapon from the holster. It's going to be intense."
8:30 a.m. – Police officers start arriving
The double doors to the gym opened, and the first to enter were Bradford and Talia. Bradford was holding two thermoses and seemed much too awake for that hour.
— "I brought coffee," he announced, handing one to Talia. — "I thought it was necessary to survive the ninja Silva today."
Gustavo laughed when he saw them.
— "Today it's not about beatings. It's about control. Knowing how to neutralize without hurting. Or hurting only what's necessary to survive."
Soon after, Sergeant Grey, Captain Anderson, and eight other police officers from the house arrived. Even Deacon and Tan from SWAT were in the background, watching from afar, dressed in civilian clothes, as if they were just there as spectators—though it was obvious they were taking it all in.
8:45 AM – Class Starts
Gustavo clapped his hands and gathered everyone in the center.
— "Good morning. Today, as promised, we're going to work on hand-to-hand combat, weapon retention, and knife combat. The idea is to use what I learned in Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu, combined with the training I received from JSOC and SWAT personnel."
There were low murmurs when he mentioned "JSOC." Bradford raised an eyebrow.
— "Did you train with operators from the Joint Special Operations Command, really?"
Gustavo nodded seriously.
— "In joint operations when I was in the DOD. I wasn't an instructor, of course, but I learned a lot by observing and practicing with them."
Angela proudly added:
— "He doesn't talk, but what this guy knows is enough to fill an entire gym."
Part 1 – Defense against direct assault and weapon retention
Gustavo asked everyone to form a semicircle. He called Angela to demonstrate.
— "Let's start with something simple, but vital: how to prevent an attacker from drawing your weapon from the side holster."
Angela approached and he got into position. He showed the movement of someone trying to grab the weapon from the external holster something common in hand-to-hand fights.
— "If someone tries to draw your weapon, first: protect your weapon. Position your body between it and the attacker, hold the arm that is reaching for the draw and create an imbalance."
He demonstrated live: when Angela tried to grab the weapon, Gustavo rotated his hip, pushed her shoulder to unbalance her and pinned her arm with a circular movement, immobilizing her on the ground in seconds.
The room went silent. Not because of the violence, but because of the efficiency.
— "All of this in two seconds. No lethal blows. Just biomechanics and control."
Bradford whistled, impressed.
— "Okay, that was nice."
Part 2 – Knife Fighting
Gustavo walked over to a table and picked up two replicas of a training knife made of hard rubber.
— "Knives are not for playing with. But they are also not for ignoring. There are criminals who carry them all the time. So, let's learn how to defend ourselves and, as a last resort, use them in combat."
He showed the main points: hold the knife with a firm grip, blade inward, never swing it like in an action movie.
— "We are not soldiers in Afghanistan. Here, the use of the knife is emergency. Short, quick, decisive."
He demonstrated to Angela how to neutralize an attacker armed with a knife by using your arms to redirect the attack, apply an arm lock and disarm.
Then he called Bishop.
— "Try to hit me. Really. Go all out."
Talia hesitated, but then advanced with intensity. In seconds, Gustavo dodged, locked her arm, twisted firmly and simulated a counterattack directly to the jugular with the training knife.
— "This right here, if it were real, would be the end of the fight."
The silence gave way to a slight nervousness.
— "Remember: control is everything. You don't have to kill. You just have to survive."
Part 3 – Ground combat
By now, everyone was sweating. Gustavo divided the class into pairs, with a clear focus: ground combat. He showed them how to escape from a mounted position, how to do a simple choke, and most importantly, how to avoid being pinned down by a larger, stronger suspect.
Lopez, who trained regularly, knocked Bradford to the mat in one of the demonstrations. He laughed, panting.
— "Silva, Lopez has become a bulldozer since she started training with you."
Angela boasted, wiping the sweat from her forehead with her forearm.
— "You're the one who's soft, Bradford."
10:35 a.m. – Closing and remarks
Everyone was sitting on the floor, exhausted but smiling. The energy was different from that of the shooting class more intimate, more intense.
Gustavo sat in the middle of them, his training knife still in his hand.
— "You guys were amazing. Remember, the body is a weapon. But the mind comes first. Avoiding conflict is still the best defense. But if it's unavoidable, be prepared."
Zoe Anderson approached, a bottle of water in her hand.
— "What you're doing here, Gustavo… it's more than training. It's culture. It's legacy."
Gustavo lowered his gaze, a little shy with the compliment.
— "I just want to make sure everyone goes home. Equipment helps. Technique saves. But well-trained instinct is what makes the difference."
Sergeant Grey gave a slight smile.
— "You're right, Silva. We needed this."
11:00 AM – Empty mat
As everyone left, Angela stayed behind a little, watching Gustavo put away the equipment. She approached in silence, and when he turned around, she commented:
— "You know… you're an outstanding police officer, Gustavo. And an excellent teacher."
He smiled, wiping his face with a towel.
— "Maybe because I learned from people much better than me. I'm just passing it on."
She looked him in the eye, sincere.
— "And doing it better than anyone I've ever seen."
Chapter 73 – "Every Second Counts"
Saturday – 7:55 AM – Mid-Wilshire Gymnasium
The morning was cold, gray, and a light fog covered the entrance to the police station. In the courtyard, some officers were stamping their feet against the cold, holding cups of freshly brewed coffee. Inside, in the tatami gymnasium that had now been transformed into an improvised training room, Gustavo walked among the mats and mannequins with attentive eyes, adjusting materials, opening black bags, separating tactical kits and organizing CAT tourniquets, hemostatic compresses and even a dummy with a simulated leg wound.
He was not wearing a uniform. He wore a plain black T-shirt with sleeves rolled up at the biceps, tactical pants and boots. His face was serious, but his eyes betrayed excitement. This was a subject he deeply respected.
Angela Lopez entered carrying a box of medical equipment.
— "Oh my, you really took the 'bring your materials' message you texted me seriously…" — she commented, seeing the level of preparation.
Gustavo smiled slightly as he adjusted the belt of a mannequin.
— "Today is about life and death, Angela. Every second counts. And every mistake can be irreversible."
She nodded in respect. She had seen Gustavo calm under fire, precise with weapons, and impressive in physical combat. But the tone he used now was different — more serious, more... personal.
08:15 – Officers enter
Little by little, the volunteers began to arrive. Talia, Bradford, Deacon, Tan, even Zoe Anderson appeared once again, discreetly positioning herself in the corner of the room. Some sergeants from other divisions also came, invited by Grey, who was beginning to realize the real impact of those classes.
Gustavo clapped his hands to get attention.
— "Good morning, everyone. Today's class will be about combat APH. Pre-Hospital Care in a hostile environment. Most of you know how to apply a tourniquet or perform CPR. But what I'm going to show you here is something I learned from Army combat medics while I was an intern at the DOD. Techniques that save your life, your partner's life, or the victim's life even when you're still under threat."
The silence was immediate. The officers understood the seriousness of what was to come.
8:30 a.m. – Technical introduction
Gustavo walked over to an improvised digital whiteboard.
— "Tactical APH is divided into three phases: care under fire, tactical care in the field, and tactical evacuation. Today we're going to focus on the first two. Because, most of the time, we're the first and only responders who will arrive in time."
He showed short body camera videos of officers applying tourniquets to shot colleagues or improvising compresses to stop bleeding.
Angela, looking at it next to Talia, whispered:
— "He prepared everything by himself, right?"
Talia nodded, impressed.
— "He lives it. It's not just training. It's a mission."
8:45 a.m. – Practical class: massive hemorrhage
Gustavo held up the dummy with a leg wound.
— "The main cause of death in combat or armed confrontations is hemorrhage. Bleeding to death. And it's preventable."
He demonstrated how to apply the CAT tourniquet, with a firm, quick movement, explaining each step.
— "The tourniquet has to hurt. If it doesn't, it's not working."
Then he called Bradford.
— "Come here, Tim. You're going to be the operator."
Bradford laughed nervously, but obeyed. He pretended to be a wounded police officer.
— "You were shot in the femoral. You have 30 seconds to live."
Gustavo threw the tourniquet to the ground.
— "Time starts now."
Bradford picked up the item and tried to put it on. His fingers were shaking, he got the position wrong, and it took him a while to lock the buckle. Gustavo interrupted:
— "It stopped. Bradford is dead."
Everyone laughed, but soon became serious when Gustavo pointed out:
— "That's how it happens. The difference between life and death isn't luck. It's preparation."
Bradford shook his head, seriously.
— "I can see I need to practice this ten more times."
Gustavo smiled.
— "Twenty."
9:15 a.m. – Wound packing and tamponade
Now it was time for the hemostatic compresses. Gustavo showed how to use QuickClot and Combat Gauze, explaining the importance of filling the wound and not just covering it superficially.
— "If you just cover the wound, you're just bandaging it. We need to stop the bleeding. It's invasive. It's difficult. But it's the difference between seeing your partner alive or dying in your arms."
Angela was called in. They simulated a perforation in the groin. She got nervous as she put the gauze on the dummy.
— "This is making me nervous…"
— "It's bound to. But it's better to make a mistake here than in an alley, in the middle of the night, with real blood dripping down your glove."
9:45 a.m. – Conscious and unconscious victim
Gustavo laid two volunteers down on the mat and simulated the scenario:
— "Your partner was hit. He's conscious, but in shock. What do you say?"
Lopez answered promptly:
— "It's going to be okay. I'm here. Hang in there."
Gustavo nodded.
— "Talk to him. Always. Your partner's voice brings stability."
Then he demonstrated how to identify unconsciousness, check airways, control breathing and start evacuation.
— "If you can move, move. If you can't, protect. And never leave alone."
10:10 – Evacuation technique
He showed three ways to drag an injured officer to cover: by the armpits, pulling on the vest, and with an improvised belt.
He called Tan to help.
— "Take me down and get me out of here, Tan."
Tan, experienced, used the vest technique. In seconds, Gustavo was behind the imaginary line of cover.
— "This technique saved a SWAT operator in 2018. And he thanked to this day the partner who didn't hesitate to pull him."
10:30 – Conclusion
Gustavo gathered everyone around.
— "Guys, what I've taught you today is the basics. But the basics done right save lives. You're not just fighters you're improvised first responders. Each of you could be someone's only hope."
He opened his bag and took out two sealed kits. — "These are my personal kits. I carry one in my vest. The other in my backpack. You can assemble your own kits on a budget, but with wisdom."
Zoe Anderson walked over and picked up one of the tourniquets. — "You should record these classes on video. Distribute them around the police academy. This stuff is gold."
Gustavo looked her in the eye. — "If you want, I'll record it myself. I just want more cops to go home at the end of their shift."
Grey put a firm hand on the recruit's shoulder. — "You're already doing more than most people have done in years."
11:00 AM – Everyone disperses
As the police officers left, Lopez stayed with Gustavo, helping to gather the material. She looked at him for a moment, her eyes serious.
— "You're one of those guys who make us want to be better. Every day."
Gustavo looked at her, tired but fulfilled.
— "I just don't want anyone to die because they didn't have a chance to learn."
She held out her hand, firm.
— "Thank you for teaching us."
Gustavo squeezed her hand tightly.
— "Always."
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