Policy Text
Newport Beach Police Department
Tactical Firearms Course
Course Control Number: 6830 -29501
POST Certification II/ 8 Hours
Revision Date: June 29 , 2021
Page 1 of 7
GOAL :
The course will provide the trainee with the minimum topics of tactical firearms and lethal force required in the
POST Perishable Skills Training Program (PSP). The trainee will develop the necessary firearms tactical
knowledge and skills to survive and win a realistic lethal force encounter.
The course consists of hands -on/practical skills firearms training for in -service officers. The traini ng may be
presented in a 4 or 8-hour format allowing for flexibility based upon specific agency or trainee group needs, as
long as the minimum topics are contained within each format independently.
TACTICAL FIREARMS
Minimum Topics/Exercises :
a. Safety Policy/Orientation
b. Moral O bligations
c. Use of Force considerations
d. Policy and/or Legal Standards
e. Sight Alignment, Trigger Control, Accuracy
f. Target Recognition and Analysis
g. Weapons Clearing/Manipulations
h. Live Fire Tactical/Marking Cartridges
i. Basic Tactical Firearms Situations, Judgment and Decision -Making Exercise(s)
j. Class Exercises/Student Evaluation/Testing
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The trainee will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of their individual Department’s Use of Force/Firearms Policy.
2. Identify the tactical analysis key points related to tactica l firearms as reported in POST Law Enforcement
Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Studies (1994 to Present).
3. Demonstrate a minimum standard of tactical handgun proficiency with every technique, exercise, and
course -of-fire, to include:
a. Judgement and Dec ision Making
b. Firearms Safety
c. Fundamentals of Marksmanship
d. Safe Drawing and Presenting Firearms
e. Threat Assessment/Identification
f. Speed, Accuracy and Effectiveness under stress and movement conditions
g. Shot Placement: Combat Effectiveness
h. Malfunctions Clearin g
Newport Beach Police Department
Tactical Firearms Course
Course Control Number: 6830 -29501
POST Certification II/ 8 Hours
Revision Date: June 29 , 2021
Page 2 of 7
i. Loading/Reloading
Minimum standards of performance shall be tested by an instructor observing the trainee during their
performance of each technique, exercise, and course -of-fire. If the trainee does not meet minimum standards,
as established by the pre senter, remediation will be provided until the standard is met.
EXPANDED COURSE OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION/ORIENTATION
A. Introduction, Registration, and Orientation
1. Instructor/student introductions
2. Registration/rosters
B. Course Objectives/Overview, Exercises, Evaluation/Testing
1. Overview of course objectives
a. Judgement and Decision Making
b. Firearms Safety
c. Fundamentals of Marksmanship
d. Safe Drawing and Presenting Firearms
e. Threat Assessment/Identification
f. Speed, Accuracy and Effectiveness under stress and movement co nditions
g. Shot Placement: Combat Effectiveness
h. Malfunctions Clearing
i. Loading/Reloading
2. Overview of exercises/drills
3. Evaluation/testing/remediation procedures
C. Weapons Safety Orientation, Review of Range and Shooting Safety Rules (Pre -range weapons
unloading procedures and lunch/extended break reload/unload rules)
1. All weapons are to be considered loaded
2. Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to shoot at
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire
4. Be sure of your target and background
5. Range and Tactical Safety
a. Follow range rules
b. Follow instructor commands
c. Strict weapon discipline and muzzle control
d. No “Lasering” of personal body parts
e. Firearms should be placed on safety or decock prior to holstering
f. Cover primary elements as a checklist with students
g. Local emergency/first aid procedures to include radio/telephone procedures, closest
medical facility
Newport Beach Police Department
Tactical Firearms Course
Course Control Number: 6830 -29501
POST Certification II/ 8 Hours
Revision Date: June 29 , 2021
Page 3 of 7
II. LETHAL FORCE OVERVIEW
A. Legal Standards/Case Law
1. AB 392
a. What has changed?
b. How are the changes reflected in your agency’s Use of F orce policy?
2. Supporting Case Law
a. Tennessee vs. Garner
i. Deadly Force
ii. Fleeing Felon
b. Graham vs. Connor
i. Objectively Reasonable Force
ii. PC 835a
B. Moral/Ethical Issues involving Use of Force/Lethal Force
1. Moral obligations
2. Ethical concerns
C. Civil Implications of using Force/Lethal Force
1. Department liability
2. Personal liability
D. Report Writing and Preliminary Investigation Overview
1. Report writing and articulation
2. What happens during preliminary investigation
III. USE OF FORCE/LETHAL FORCE AND FIREARMS POLICY
A. Use of Force Considerations
1. Lethal Force within the spectrum of force options
2. Verbal, Hands, Less Lethal, Lethal Force
3. Escal ation and De -escalation Process
B. Department Policy/SB 230
1. Reasonable Cause to believe
2. Imminent Threat
3. Death or