Wade's Eastside Gun Shop & the Bellevue Indoor Range
CLASSES | Cancellation/Refund/Transfer Policy | EVENTS | Instructor BIO's
Our Instructors are of the highest caliber when it comes to their passion for teaching others regarding the safe use of firearms. They are on the leading edge of current trends and technologies and are more than ready to impart their knowledge to the student.
Erik Schmidt: Training Director- Bellevue Indoor Range
Erik Schmidt is a lifelong, ardent student of the Martial Arts with a second degree black belt in Goju Ryu Karate and has studied dozens of martial arts throughout the U.S., Japan, The Philippines, and the Middle East. He is currently training in Koei Kan Karate in Bellevue.
He is a decorated veteran of the Persian Gulf War (Operations Desert Shield/ Desert Storm 1991), and served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps with special emphasis in Counterinsurgency and Guerrilla Warfare, Alpine Warfare/ Survival, Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Warfare, Landing Support/ Helicopter Operations, Close Quarters Battle and Rifle/ Crew Served Weapons holding an "Expert" rating.
Erik was a US Customs Canine Enforcement Officer and K9 trainer, successfully training and deploying two Narcotic Detection Dogs. Together he and his German Shepherd seized over $2.8 million dollars worth of narcotics and an additional $2.2 million dollars in asset forfeitures. He held an "Expert" rating in firearms during his tenure at USCS and sought additional focus on Anti-Terror Operations with BATF and the Department of Justice. (SEMTEX 1998)
In 1999 he joined a local police department and gained over a decade of valuable street experience to include appointments as a State Certified Firearms Instructor (Pistols, Sub-guns and Patrol Rifles), Defensive Tactics Instructor (Level 1), Mountain Bike Officer, Undercover Narcotics Team, Car Prowl Detective, Civil Disturbance Cadre and "held the line" during the WTO, N30 and Mardi Gras 2001 riots. He has numerous department commendations, decorations and instructor certifications via the Washington State Criminal Justice Center as well as from private training organizations.
As a member of the police training staff he provided "hands on" training for his department and frequently with a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team as a moving target and living punching bag. He also enjoys running and cowering in fear from the patrol dogs during their training exercises and continues to participate in these dynamic training environments whenever he can.
Erik has spent his entire adult life cultivating his knowledge base with the martial arts, contemporary weapons and defensive tactics options and brings a wealth of real world experience to his students. In his off time he can be found riding his motorcycle, camping, shooting, skiing and the German dog sport of Schutzhund with his best buddy, "Wolf."
Cathy Schlegel:
Cathy is credited with training thousands of students in the law enforcement and civilian sectors. She holds instructor certifications with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Glock Inc. Law Enforcement Division, H & K Law Enforcement MP5, and Judicious Use of Deadly Force from Defensive Tactics Institute. Cathy was also the Police Reserve Academy Chief Firearm Instructor for Green River and Highline Community Colleges and Renton Technical College.
She has had the great opportunity to receive training from a variety of sources including Jeff Cooper, Chuck Taylor (American Small Arms Academy), Clint Smith (Thunder Ranch), John Farnarm, Massad Ayoob, Insights Training Center and Factor Defense.
Cathy was the training director here at Wade's for several years and has come out of “retirement” to teach our Ladies Handgun Safety Class along with being available for private instruction. Each individual in the class will appreciate the straight forward explanations, attention, and tips that are easy to remember. She ensures learning is safe and fun with a no pressure atmosphere.
Michael Cox:
Mike is a state certified Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor. He is also a certified Glock Armorer. Mike has taken his firearms knowledge and his zeal for teaching and used it to help develop and teach classes at Wade’s. He enjoys teaching and shooting guns, so working as an instructor at Wade’s is the best of both worlds for him.
Mike enjoys teaching classes. He also loves the opportunity to help individuals in a one-on-one setting. Mike finds great satisfaction in helping students to identify and correct small problems that make a huge difference in shooting.
Mike believes that learning should be fun and therefore enjoys joking around while teaching. However, he also believes that safety can never be compromised. As a result, Mike implements two rules when he teaches. First, SAFETY is required from all of his students. Second, his students must all have FUN.
If you have not had the chance to meet Mike, all you need to do is look for the smiling face. After all, it is rare to catch him without one…
Don Clifton:
Don has a Master's degree in Professional Psychology, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition (he teaches guitar at the Fremont Music School), both of which he claims are somehow directly related to firearm instruction.
He is also a private security pistol and rifle instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center and a proud NRA instructor certified as a Range Safety Officer, a Refuse to be a Victim crime prevention instructor, and a certified instructor in Basic Pistol, Personal Protection in the Home, and basic and advanced Personal Protection Outside of the Home.
He is a certified instructor from the state of Utah for their mandatory firearm familiarity certification in applying for their concealed pistol license as a non-resident.
Don tailors his classes and private instruction to the needs of the individual. He specializes in helping people overcome any personal obstacles that stand in the way of their firearm use and fine tuning those that have been at it for a while.
He is a civilian focused on training other civilians on firearm safety and use, his primary strengths self-identified as "patience" and "a sense of humor".
Jeff Dela Cruz:
Jeff has served in virtually all areas of border security, to include passenger, cargo, and conveyances in all environments’ of sea, air, and land. He has completed federal training in various parts of the country in basic, intermediate, and advanced firearms techniques. He is proficient in firearms safety, handling/manipulations, concealment, and close combat techniques. He is skilled with a wide variety of law enforcement tools to include firearms, intermediate force applications, and nonverbal/verbal tactics. Specializing in pistols, Jeff enjoys close range and long range weapons.
Jeff’s training was in large part derived from the events of September 11, 2001. Many courses he has participated were funded by the U.S. taxpayers, which he enjoys giving back to the public in form of knowledge in firearms safety and various technical protection skill sets.
Jeff enjoys being in Seattle. Thus, having been in various parts of the country serving the public good he truly calls the Pacific North West home. He is available for class and private instruction. His philosophy is fluid and adaptive to suit the needs of his students.
Bill Bolitho:
Bill has worked at Wade's for over seven years as a Rangemaster and has been teaching individuals as well as classes for the last three years.
Bill is a graduate of the Yavapai Firearms Academy, the California Department of Justice Firearms Academy and is an NRA certified Home Firearms Safety Instructor. He is also and NRA certified Pistol/ Revolver Instructor and is Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center certified for rifle, pistol and shotgun.
Bill still likes to compete in local cowboy action matches as well as club High-power Rifle shoots.
Jose (Joe) Porras:
Joe is the newest instructor at Wade's but has worked in law enforcement for over 24 years. He currently holds a Use of Force Specialist position for the Department of Corrections.
Joe has a Defensive Tactics- Master Instructor rating via the Criminal Justice Training Center. He holds instructor level certifications in Taser, Weapons Retention and Ground Fighting and has dual certifications through DOC and CJTC as a Firearms Instructor.
Joe is a Special Emergency Response Team member and also teaches at the Police Academy (CJTC) in Burien. Joe is a Mantracking Instructor and holds a degree in National Security Management and Counter Terrorism.