About Five O Driving School

James is the current owner and operator of Five O Driving School and a full-time San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Deputy. He has worked as a law enforcement officer since 2010 for the Fresno Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Stallion Springs Police Department. In his law enforcement career thus far, he has served as a senior police officer, rangemaster, tactical handgun instructor, training officer, terrorist liaison officer, narcotics expert, explorer advisor, and a member of the off-highway vehicle unit. James is also certified as a Driver Education Instructor. James enjoys teaching safe driving practices as well as bass fishing, riding ATVs, snowboarding, and spending time with his family.

John came up with the idea of using first responders to teach behind-the-wheel driver's training after retiring from a 32-year career with the California Highway Patrol (CHP). For over three decades, he witnessed the impact of poor driving practices on families and the community. Now he's spent the past 15 years teaching young drivers how to develop good practices to keep themselves and others safe on the road.

John retired from the Highway Patrol as a sergeant and worked in many central and southern California areas, including Bakersfield, Glendale, Newhall, Tejon, Santa Ana, and Santa Maria. He was a shooting team investigator, MAIT accident investigator, and tire forensic investigator. John was also a Field Training Officer and a certified EMT. When he's not driving a car, he enjoys working on them, especially old collector and muscle cars. He even restored a Highway Patrol cruiser.

John Jamison has taught at Five O Driving School since 2019. John was a Deputy with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for five years and a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) for over 25 years. During his time at BPD, he held roles as a field training officer, a report writing instructor, and a teacher at the police academy. As a detective with that agency, John worked assignments in burglary, financial crimes, auto theft, and sex crimes. When he’s not teaching new drivers, John enjoys camping and woodworking.

Laurie has taught at Five O Driving School since 2018. Before that, Laurie was an officer with the California Highway Patrol for eight and a half years. She worked in Bakersfield, Tejon, and Mojave. Laurie was a field training officer, weapons training officer, safety training officer, and drug recognition expert. She enjoys teaching and helps with youth bible study at her church.

Michael Freeman has taught at Five O Driving School since 2018. Michael was in the United States Navy for over six years, where he specialized as a torpedo man and worked in aviation ordnance. He was stationed on the USS America CVA66. Michael has been teaching American Kenpo for 40 years and is a black belt who is also involved in teaching/training in the martial arts sector.

Mark is a retired sergeant from the California Highway Patrol and has been a Five O Driving School instructor since 2016. Mark’s CHP career spanned 34 years, and he served in central Los Angeles, Newhall, Fort Tejon, Bakersfield, Templeton, and Buttonwillow. Mark held positions as a drug recognition expert, training sergeant, rangemaster, and first-line supervisor. His hobbies include motorcycle riding and building 60’s muscle cars.

Tim Quillen has been a driving instructor at Five O Driving School since 2021, following a career at Corcoran State Prison for 18 years. He spent most of his career in Administrative Segregation or the Security Housing Unit, volunteering for overtime shifts to transport inmates to the Bakersfield Hospitals from Corcoran. He holds a Black Belt in Kung Fu San Soo and teaches self-defense to women.

Paul Sisemore has taught at Five O Driving School since 2022. Paul is currently serving as Chaplain for the San Luis Obispo Police Department. A position that he has held since 2015. Paul is a retired Pastor, a missionary to Ukraine, and a nuclear power plant operator. Paul and his wife enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and hanging out with their five teenage grandchildren.

Gary began instructing for Five 0 Driving School in 2023 after enjoying a few years of retirement. For 25 years, Gary served Newhall, Antelope Valley, Bakersfield, and the Grapevine Vehicle Enforcement Facility as a California Highway Patrol officer. He was a field training officer, CPR instructor, MAIT (Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team) Associate, and a DOT-certified commercial inspector. In his free time, Gary enjoys golfing, fishing, furniture reclamation, and spending time with his family.

Ron Sparling started his career right out of high school, joining the Air Force at age 17 and becoming a weapons loader on attack aircraft. He later joined the Department of Defense, serving 29 years at the China Lake Federal Fire Department, the last 12 as the Installation Fire Chief. Starting as a firefighter and filling every position in the fire department, Ron has seen what happens when poor driving habits are demonstrated in real life. Throughout his career, Ron has held various teaching roles and received several certifications, including Fire and Emergency Services Instructor 3 and a part-time Vocational Teaching credential for the State of California.

Ron has been married for 34 years. He and his wife have two children and now reside in Bakersfield after spending 43 years living in Lake Isabella. In his spare time, Ron enjoys spending time with his family, helping others, fishing, and playing golf.

Jennifer has taught at Five O Driving School since 2024. She began a career in law enforcement as a correctional officer at Soledad State Prison before transferring to North Kern where she worked for 9 years. Jennifer spent most of her career guarding inmates who were admitted to the hospital. She also rotated positions throughout the prison as a permanent intermittent officer when not on hospital duty. She enjoys spending time with her family and recently became a grandma to a baby girl.