Get the knowledge and skills you need to defend yourself and your family — from a 10-year law enforcement veteran, certified firearms instructor, and former undercover narcotics agent.
Years in Law Enforcement
Tactical Operations
Officers Trained
Combining hands-on gun range expertise with a decade of law enforcement to deliver training that's grounded in reality.
Prior to law enforcement, Chris spent 4.5 years working at East Orange Shooting Sports — a busy gun range — shooting pistols competitively, teaching customers how to shoot, and advising on concealed carry options and tactics. That hands-on experience became the foundation for a 10-year career with the Casselberry Police Department.
During that decade, he served as a patrolman (3 years), investigator (3 years), and undercover narcotics agent (4 years). He became a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Certified General Instructor and Firearms Instructor in 2015, and was the lead firearms and tactical instructor for the department for his final five years. He trained all new hires in firearms and tactical shooting, taught building search techniques, traffic stops, felony stops, vehicle assaults, and force-on-force scenario training. He planned and ran annual in-service firearms training and oversaw qualifications for the entire agency.
He spent 9 years on the agency's Special Enforcement Team (a tactical/warrant entry team), reviewed officer-involved shootings from a tactical perspective, and during his final 4 years was cross-sworn with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office undercover narcotics unit — planning hundreds of tactical operations as case agent and participating in more than 2,000 as an assisting agent.
FDLE Certified General Instructor & Firearms Instructor (2015–2024)
NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
Certified AR-15 & Glock Armorer
10 Years — Casselberry Police Department
9 Years — Special Enforcement Team (Tactical / Warrant Entry)
Cross-Sworn — Seminole County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit
Every class is built around efficiency and real-world defensive skills — not just sending rounds downrange. All training is offered for individuals or groups, with course content and pricing custom-fit to each student's experience and goals.
Master the fundamentals of safe firearms handling and pistol operation. Instructor provides a .22LR and 9mm firearm and ammunition for training — students may bring their own firearms and ammo if they prefer.
BeginnerCourse content is tailored to each student and focuses on intermediate skills: engaging multiple targets, reloads, moving and shooting, and malfunction clearing. Students who complete at least two classes and demonstrate strong safety fundamentals become eligible for the advanced course, which includes drawing and shooting from concealment.
Intermediate – AdvancedThe basic course covers cover vs. concealment, tactical angles, solo and partner building-clearing tactics, and practical exercises. The personalized course adds an in-home threat assessment and security evaluation — identifying vulnerabilities and recommending the best way to defend your home, based on your preferred defensive weapon.
Intermediate – AdvancedStudents provide their own rifle and ammunition. The course covers the fundamentals of semi-automatic rifle functionality, sighting, loading and reloading, and malfunction identification and remedy.
Beginner – IntermediateStudents provide their own shotgun and ammunition. The course covers the fundamentals of shotgun functionality, sighting, loading and reloading, and malfunction identification and remedy.
BeginnerTwo-hour class covering safe practices for realtors at work, situational awareness considerations, and a surface-level discussion of self-defense — including defensive tools and weapons and their carry options.
SpecializedAn on-site threat assessment of your business plus a two-hour class covering safe practices for employees at work and in everyday life. The presentation is tailored specifically to the client and their business.
SpecializedAll individual training begins with a no-obligation consultation. We discuss your experience and your goals so the course can be custom-fit to your needs before you ever book.
Every class is available as one-on-one instruction or as a group session. Pricing scales with group size and is tailored to the specific student or students.
Classes must be paid in full at booking. No refunds are issued, but an 80% credit will be issued to be used at a later date if you can't make the scheduled session.
Too many people own guns without the training to actually defend themselves. That's the gap we fill.
Tate's Tactical was born from a simple observation made over years of working at a gun range and in law enforcement: so many people buy guns for self-defense but are not adequately prepared to use them when it matters.
Customers at the range would buy a firearm for carry or home defense, only to be disappointed or overwhelmed when they shot it for the first time. Meanwhile, the training curriculum at many agencies doesn't adequately reflect real-world defensive scenarios.
That's why every Tate's Tactical class is designed around the skills required to successfully handle a real lethal force situation — combined with a thorough understanding of the laws around self-defense and deadly force.
Years of experience as an investigator working closely with the State Attorney's Office on violent crimes and self-defense cases, combined with deep tactical knowledge, create a uniquely qualified perspective on how to train responsibly and effectively.
Get expert guidance on which weapon systems, holsters, and carry options best fit your needs and lifestyle.
Training based on actual law enforcement scenarios and lethal force encounters — not just target shooting.
Understand self-defense laws and deadly force statutes so you can make informed, legally sound decisions under pressure.
Tate's Tactical is named after Chris's son — a constant reminder that protecting your family starts with proper training.
A career spent training to protect others — now dedicated to training you.
Spent 4.5 years working the gun range — shooting pistols competitively, teaching customers to shoot, and advising on concealed carry options and tactics. This hands-on experience laid the groundwork for a career in law enforcement.
Began law enforcement career as a patrolman, building street-level experience in traffic stops, calls for service, and community policing.
Transitioned to investigations, working closely with the State Attorney's Office on violent crimes, self-defense cases, and death investigations. Earned FDLE Certified General Instructor and Firearms Instructor certifications in 2015.
Cross-sworn with Seminole County Sheriff's Office. Planned hundreds of tactical operations as case agent and participated in 2,000+ tactical operations as assisting agent. Executed hundreds of search warrants. Simultaneously served as lead firearms and tactical instructor for CPD.
Launched Tate's Tactical to share 14+ years of combined range and law enforcement experience with civilians who want to be truly prepared to defend themselves and their families.
Recognition earned over a decade of service with the Casselberry Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
Retired Detective Chris Rich was one of our agency's primary firearms and defensive tactics instructors for 7 years. Chris' commitment to excellence is unmatched and could be relied upon to train our officers, especially our new officers, to a high level of competence. His knowledge, expertise, professionalism, and communication skills made him one of our most effective trainers. He is highly respected and understood the significance of training to our officers and ensured each officer improved their skills, succeeded, and also enjoyed their training.
CPD — Casselberry Police Department · SCSO — Seminole County Sheriff's Office
Continuous professional development ensures the most current and effective training methods.
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Whether you're a first-time gun owner looking for basic safety training, a concealed carry holder who wants to sharpen your skills, or a business seeking a professional threat assessment — we're here to help. Reach out and let's talk about the right training for you.
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