Our Instructors
Stan Appel
Co owner / Lead Instructor
Stan has been a police officer for 37 years. After retiring from the Long Beach Police Department he joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office where he recently retired as a Senior Investigator.
Stan has worked numerous details, including Patrol, Investigations, S.W.A.T, Specialized Crime Suppression, Police Athletic League, and as the Long Beach Police Department academy fitness coordinator.
As the department fitness coordinator, Stan organized one of the most extensive police officer wellness and fitness programs in the State of California. His program consisted of yearly testing for officers in strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility, body weight, body fat, and blood chemistry.
Stan was also the captain of the Baker to Vegas running relay team, where he was instrumental in building a division-winning team three years in a row. Stan has extensive experience in cycling, running and triathlon. He has won numerous gold medals at the World Police and Fire Games, qualified for the Xterra World Triathlon Championships, and has consistently competed as a top Masters level cyclist.
Stan has a B.S. degree in Business Administration (Management) from California State University, Long Beach and has been certified by the Cooper Institute as a personal trainer and fitness specialist.
Steve Fong
Co owner / Lead Instructor
Steve has been a police officer for 23 years. He started with the Long Beach Police Department before being medically retired from injuries received on duty from the Huntington Beach Police Department. Past assignments include:
Patrol, Field Training Officer, Bicycle Patrol, Registered Sex Offender Investigations, Warrant Detail, Vice/Narcotics, Firearms instructor, and SWAT. Steve last served as the Training Officer for HBPD.
While at the Long Beach Police Department, Steve held the record for the 1.5 mile run at the Academy with a time of 7:34. Steve also assisted Stan as an academy fitness instructor and running coach. He was instrumental in the success of the Long Beach Police Department Baker to Vegas running team.
Steve ran competitively for California State University, Long Beach in both cross-country and track and field. He currently participates in running events and triathlons, including completing two Ironman triathlons, several Spartan obstacle course races, and 16 Baker to Vegas races.
Steve has a B.S. degree in Kinesiology from California State University, Long Beach and has been certified by the Cooper Institute as a personal trainer and fitness specialist.
Mike Stovall
Lead Instructor
Mike has been a police officer for 40 years. He retired from the Long Beach Police Department as a Narcotics Team Sergeant and also recently retired as a Senior Investigator with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
As a police officer, Mike has worked numerous details including Patrol, Juvenile, Vice, Sexually Exploited Children Unit, and as a Sex Crimes Detective. Once promoted to Sergeant, Mike worked Patrol, Detectives, and Narcotics Investigation.
Mike has participated in numerous oral interviews as both the interviewee and as the interviewer. He is a product of Long Beach public schools and a graduate of Long Beach City College with a Major in Administration of Justice.
He has always been involved in physical fitness and is an avid cyclist and trail runner. Mike enjoys seeing the progress and successes of future police officers he helps coach during the testing and selection process.