NCJ Number
202409
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 27 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2003 Pages: 22-24,26,28,29
Date Published
June 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article explains the steps involved in improving the marksmanship of a police agency's officers.
Abstract
The upgrading and maintenance of officers' marksmanship skills are not only important for effective policing and officer and citizen safety, but also in limiting an agency's liability that may stem from injuries and deaths caused by an officer's errant bullet. The first step in enhancing combat weaponcraft skills throughout an agency is to designate one or more well-qualified firearms instructors. These should be highly motivated officers who want the job. They should be sent to training schools with requirements beyond those mandated for certification by the agency's State. Once a well-qualified instructor is in place, a training program must be designed. It should allow for a progression of skill development from stationary shooting to shooting while on the move or exiting from a vehicle. The provision of individual instruction for problem shooters is recommended. Training must focus on the smallest detail of shooting technique. Since the most frequent error of officers who cannot shoot accurately is the inability to press the trigger straight to the rear without interrupting the alignment of the gun's muzzle, each training session might well begin with a few exercises that emphasize trigger-finger separation. Firing sessions should be fun and stimulate excitement; for example, students enjoy steel targets that make noise and fall down when properly hit. The most obvious way to improve agency-wide firearms skills is to increase training time. Further, simulated combat situations are important. This involves using harmless weapons, notably "green gas" guns, that show "hits" and do not require the wearing of protective clothing. Agencies should make ammunition and range time available for officers who want to practice on their own.