Region 8 Reps
Contact your Region Reps for training and updates for your area
region8@catotraining.org
Santa Maria PD
Nate Totorica
is a Sergeant and currently serves as SWAT Team Leader for the Santa Maria PD. While serving on the SWAT team as an officer/operator, he held various team duties, including containment operator, entry team, long rifleman, chemical munitions, and scout. He has also served as an FTO, Detective, Gang Suppression Team, and Active Shooter Instructor. Totorica holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Totorica has been a member of CATO for ten years.
San Louis Obispo PD
Fred Mickel
is a Lieutenant with the San Louis Obispo PD and is currently assigned to Investigations and Internal Affairs. He also supervises the Department’s Range, Defensive Tactics, Mobile Field Force, and Active Shooter programs. Mickel has been a member of the SWAT team for approximately 19 years and is the Tactical Commander, previously serving as Team Leader, Scout, and Sniper. During his 26 years in law enforcement, he has been a SWAT team member, Range Master, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Mobile Field Force Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, FTO, SRO, Motor Sergeant, and a Hiring/Training Sergeant. He is a graduate of SLI and the Force Science Institute. Mickel has been a CATO member for over ten years.