Policy Text
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 421 – Firearms Policy
Page 1 of 8 TITLE: FIREARMS POLICY 421
EFFECTIVE: 07/01/2015 REVISED: 10/24/2025 SCOPE : ALL EMPLOYEES
REVIEW AUTHORITY: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS SECTION LIEUTENANT
CFA STANDARDS: 4.02M (A, B), 4.03M, 4.04M, 4.05M (A-C), 4.12M (A -E)
421.01 Firearms 421.10 Inquires for Discharge of Firearms
421.02 Unauthorized Use of Firearms 421.11 Firearm Modifications
421.03 Authorized Firearms 421.1 2 Patrol Rifles
421.04 Off-Duty Firearms 421.1 3 Less-Lethal Launcher
421.05 Authorized Ammunition 421.14 Lost or Stolen Firearms
421.06 Safety and Security of Firearms 421.1 5 Replacement of Firearms
421.07 Annual Inspection of Firearms 421.1 6 Firearms on Commercial Aircraft
421.08 Firearm Qualifications Firearms Clearing Traps
421.09 Accidental Discharge
Policy: The policy of the Kissimmee Police Department is to confirm the safe use of authorized
firearms consistent with applicable law and established safety procedures.
421.01 Firearms: Only sworn employees are authorized to carry firearms while on duty . All sworn
officers shall successfully complete the minimum qualifications set forth by the Criminal Justice
Standards and Training Commission prior to being authorized to carry a firearm or to make an
arrest. [CFA 4.03M] Only authorized firearms shall be carried.
An authorized firearm is any make, model, or caliber of firearm approved by the Chief of Police
to include all firearms issued by the Department and approved secondary firearms.
Varying types of firearms may be utilized by sworn personnel at different times, with specific
purposes, but always in the performance of official law enforcement duties as governed by
Department General Orders and applicable law. The categories are:
a. Primary Service Handgun – The Department issued handgun carried by sworn officers;
b. Secondary Handgun – Any Department authorized handgun oth er than the primary service
handgun that is carried while on -duty during the performance of law enforcement
activities;
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 421 – Firearms Policy
Page 2 of 8 c. Shoulder Weapons – Long guns to include shotguns and rifles;
d. Less-Lethal Launcher – A specific shotgun designated by the Department Armorer for use
with less -lethal munitions and identified by orange mark ings.
Refer to General Order 401 – Response to Resistance for additional information.
421.02 Unauthorized Use of Firearms: An officer shall not draw a handgun or display a shoulder
weapon except as authorized by the Response to Resistance General Order. Discharging a firearm
is prohibited if it presents an unreasonable risk to the officer or others. Based on the totality of the
situation and absent exigent circumstances , an unreasonable risk may include:
a. Shooting into a crowd;
b. Shooting through doors, t hrough windows or into buildings without clear target
identification;
c. Shooting at subjects who only pose a threat to themselves, such as suicidal subjects;
d. Shooting from moving vehicles; and
e. Shooting at moving vehicles; (Unless it reasonably appears it would endanger officers or
the public, officers shall move out of the path of any approaching vehicle. This is not
intended to restrict an officer’s right to use deadly force directed at the operator of a vehicle
when it is reasonably perceived that the ve hicle is being used as a weapon against the
officer or others).
The restrictions of this policy shall not cause officers to unreasonably endangering themselves or
another person.
The firing of any warning shot is strictly prohibited. [CFA 4.04M]
421.03 Authorized Firearms: [CFA 4.05M – A] Only firearms approved by the Chief of Police
shall be carried, on or off duty, while in the performance of law enforcement duties.
The Training Unit shall maintain a record on each firearm approved by the age ncy for official use
and shall be responsible for the storage, maintenance, and issuance of all Department firearms.
[CFA 4.12M – E]
An inventory of all firearms owned by the Department shall be conducted annually by the Training
Unit.
On-Duty Firearm s – Officers in uniform shall carry the primary service handgun. Personally -
owned firearms shall not be carried in place of a primary service handgun. When carried, handguns
shall be fully loaded, including a round in the chamber of semiautomatic weapons.
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 421 – Firearms Policy
Page 3 of 8 Plainclothes sworn officers shall carry the agency -issued primary service handgun, badge, and
credentials. Officers shall prominently display their agency -issued badge in close proximity to the
firearm and shall display the agency -issued photo ID where it is easily visible to the public if the
handgun is not carried in a concealed manner.
Officers assigned in an undercover capacity may be issued a compact firearm and holster that shall
be carried in a concealed manner with a minimum Level I retention. Officers assigned to Task
Force positions shall not be permitted to carry any handgun s other than their primary service