About

John & Tami Popke celebrating 25 years in business!

Owner John Popke spent 24 years as a SWAT-Team operator and a certified Peace Officer Hostage Rescue and Entry Operations Training Instructor for the State of California, was the recipient of four California State Medals of Valor throughout his 28 year career, and in 2007 was chosen the California State Officer of the Year. John was one of California’s top master weapons and tactics instructors. During his broad career in SWAT, John held a wide variety of positions, including tactical team leader, sniper team commander, hostage rescue team leader, crisis response team leader, and tactical team trainer at the central and northern California SWAT academies. A prior Sr. Master Martial Arts Instructor as well, John also proudly served our country in the Navy.

From tactical firearms courses to complex entry operations for SWAT, John’s years of experience and methods of teaching cutting edge tactics takes courses to a level rarely seen. John, along with his wife Tami, founded and operated Weapons Training School, LLC, in California for 18 years, proudly serving citizens, communities, government agencies, and private businesses in improving their safety.

Tami is an NRA certified firearms instructor in handgun, rifle, shotgun, and home defense. She is also an NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and a master instructor in firearms specializing in women’s handgun training, personal defense, and concealed carry.

After owning and operating a successful weapons training school in California for 18 years, John and Tami Popke established Popke Defense Solutions in 2019. This team continues to be dedicated to providing the highest quality professional training available and are honored to be offering these winning courses here in the great state of Utah. Whether serving law enforcement agencies or private citizens, large seminars or private lessons, basic or advanced students, John and Tami and Popke Defense Solutions provide safe, quality, friendly, hands-on instruction that is simple, effective, affordable, reality-based, motivating, empowering, and most importantly, FUN! Come see for yourself!

Our Mission

Popke Defense Solutions strives to deliver the highest quality of professional safety training available, while providing each student the respect and care they deserve and a safe, positive experience they will always remember.