301514

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: June 5, 2025  Amends - GO 8.1.1 ( December 11, 2023 ) Number : 8.1.1 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: March Reviewing Authority: HRD / Training Subject: Firearms This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to establish proper training for all sworn members in the use of firearms. 2. Policy It is the policy of the Sheriff that all personnel authorized to carry firearms be issued copies of, and instructed in, the written directive s pertaining to the response to resistance, deadly force, warning shots, authorized less lethal firearms , and procedures for rendering medical aid after using any weapon, prior to being authorized to carry a weapon. Agency personnel shall be appropriately trained on the use of qualified firearms and those firearms will be appropriately inspected and maintained. Only agency approved on -duty and authorized off -duty firearms and ammunition will be carried by sworn employees in the performance of their respons ibilities. Additional firearms training is required annually, as outlined in GO 18.1.3 , and all firearms training shal l include a safety briefing as outlined in SO 91. 3. Definitions A. Agency -Approved Training – Any training approved by the agency’s Traini ng Section Commander or verified, successful completion of equivalent training from an agency that is sanctioned by the Training Section Commander or designee. B. Approved Rifle – An agency -issued or personally owned rifle that meets the specification s and provisions of this policy or any other rifle authorized for use by the Sheriff . C. Approved Shotgun - An agency -issued shotgun that is authorized for use by the Sheriff. D. Approved Submachine Gun – An agency -issued subm achine gun that is authorized for use by the Sheriff . 8.1.1, Page 2 of 17 E. Approved Holster – A holster , other than the primary duty holster, that is designed specifically for the firearm to be carried , has a covered trigger guard and a retention device , and is comprised of material that will not collapse when the handgun is drawn . F. Approved Primary Duty Holster – An agency -issued or approved level three retention holster that is designed to be used with a n approved primary duty pistol. G. Approved Primary Duty Pistol – Glock model G21 (.45 caliber) or Glock model G47 (9 mm). H. Approved Back -Up Handgun – A handgun that meets the specifications and provisions outlined in this policy and is authorized to be carried in unison with the primary duty handgun when o n duty. I. Approved Off Duty Handgun – A handgun that meets the specifications and provisions outlined in this policy and is authorized for use by sworn agency personnel when they are not on duty. H. Approved Secondary Handgun – A handgun that meets the specifications and provisions outlined in this policy and is authorized to be worn by sworn agency personnel in lieu of the primary duty pistol when the employee is not in uniform. I. Approved Suppressors - An agency issued or personally owned suppressor that meets the specifications and provisions outlines in this policy or any other suppressor authorized for use by the Sheriff. J. Approved Undercover Handgun - A handgun, generally small and easily concealab le, that meets the specifications and provisions outlined in this policy and is authorized to be carried by sworn agency personnel in an undercover assignment for operational efficiency. K. Basic Rifle User Course –A 24 -hour introductory rifle course administ ered by a certified Range instructor. L. Converted Firearm – A handgun, previously seized as evidence, that no longer has evidentiary value and has been approved to be used in a secondary or undercover capacity. M. Cruiser Ready Rifle –The condition of a rifle when there is no ammunition chambered, the bolt is forward, the safety is not engaged, and a loaded magazine is inserted and locked into position. A 20 round magazine will be loaded with no more than 18 rounds and a 30 round magazine will be loaded with no more than 28 rounds. N. Cruiser Ready Shotgun - The condition of a shotgun when there is no ammunition chambered, the fore -end is locked in the forward position, and the safety is not engaged. The magazine will be loaded with four segmenting slug rounds or 00 buck shot rounds . 8.1.1, Page 3 of 17 O. Equivalent Training – Any training, obtained through prior law enforcement or military experience, that meets the same standard and provides a reasonably similar curriculum to that provided by the agency. P. Less Lethal Impact Projectiles - Munitions that can be fired, launched , or otherwise propelled for the purpose of encouraging compliance, overcoming resistance , or preventing serious injury without posing a significant potential of causing death. Examples of less lethal impact projectiles include beanbags, Launchable Direct Impact, Blunt Impact Projectile (BIP) round, PepperBall or rubber pellets and other like items. Q. Patrol Carry Bag (PCB) - An agency approved backpack or similar pack that can carry an approved firearm system (i.e. short -barreled rifle , submachine gun) while on patrol. The use of a PCB must be approved