Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 260.03
1 OF 3
260.03
FIREARMS TRAINING/QUALIFICATION
04-07-06
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish gui delines for firearms tr aining and qualifications.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacram ento Police Department that employ ees who carry firearms train and
qualify with their firearms and that the Department keep accurate training and qualification records.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
This order applies to all employees who are requir ed to carry a firearm as part of their assigned
duties. The term “employees” as used in this or der includes, but is not limited to, officers,
reserve officers, and security guards.
B. QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING
1. The Training Division, Office of Technical Services (OTS), shall schedule and facilitate
quarterly firearms courses for employees.a. The Training Division shall provide two firearms qualification courses and
additional firearms training courses per calendar year. Training courses may
include firearms training that is offer ed as part of Continuing Professional
Training (CPT).
b. Employees shall complete all required firearms courses unless excused by their
division manager.(1) Employees who fail to complete a firearms course and do not have an
excused absence must s ubmit a memorandum to their division captain
explaining why they were unable to attend the session.
(2) Employees missing a firearms cour se shall complete the next available
firearms course.
c. Employees shall qualify with thei r primary handgun and shotgun at each
qualification course. Officers who use a secondary handgun or a back-up handgun shall also qualify at each qualification course.
(1) Employees who have been issued a shotgun shall qualify with the issued
shotgun.
(2) Security Guards are not required to qualify with a shotgun.(3) Employees shall qualify with back- up firearms as declared on form SPD
197 (Optional Duty/Back-Up Weapon).
d. Officers who use an M-16 shall qualify tw ice a year with their M-16 at designated
M-16 qualification courses.
e. The type of firearm (e.g. handgun, shotgun) used during training courses will be
determined by the Training Division.
2. Exceptions
a. The Chief of Police or designee may grant exceptions to the requirements of this
order for employees who receive frequent firearms training (e.g. SWAT, SID).
b. The Captain, Personnel Services Divisi on (PSD) shall determine if employees on
modified duty are exempt from t he requirements of this order.
3. Range Master(s) shall:
a. supervise all firearms training and qualifications.
b. inspect handguns and holsters to ensure they function properly and are in good
working order.
c. complete and forward SPD 197 forms to the armorer.d. sign all qualification forms and forward the original copy to t he Training Division.
e. report any safety violati ons to the Training Division.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O. 260.03
2 OF 34. At the conclusion of each fi rearms course, the Training Division shall notify each office
chief, in writing, of the names of employees under their command who did not
participate.
5. Division managers shall ensure their personnel attend firearms courses as required in
this order.
C. FIREARMS COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION
1. The Training Division shall:
a. designate specially trained officers as Range Masters.b. designate Range Masters as course instructors.
c. develop training courses designed to enhance weapons safety, proficiency,
officer safety, and survival tactics. Training courses should cover malfunction
drills on a regular basis.
d. maintain documentation on all firearm courses.e. coordinate the Marksmanship Award Program.
2. The Training Division shall document t he following information for each course:
a. Time, date, location, environment, and criteria for passing or qualifying
b. Distance from targets and positions/stances usedc. Number of rounds fired from each position/stanced. Props used (e.g., citation book, fl ashlight, vehicle, time limits)
D RETURNING TO DUTY - RETRAINING
The Captain, PSD, shal l determine retraining needs:
1. for employees who have sustained injuries which may impair weapons safety,
proficiency, officer safety, and survival.
2. for employees who have not been on regul ar duty for over six (6) months.
E. FAILURE TO QUALIFY
1. Employees shall be given a maximum of two (2) opportunities to qualify with handguns or
shotguns the day they are scheduled to qualify.a. If an employee fails to qualify on the first opportunity, a Range Master shall
immediately provide retraining in an ef fort to correct the problem. The Range
Master will then give the empl oyee another opportunity to qualify.
b. If the employee fails to qualify on the second opportunity:
(1) the Range Master shall immediat ely advise the employee’s division
manager or the on-duty watch commander that the employee has failed to
qualify.
(2) the employee’s division manager or watch commander shall immediately
place the employee on modified duty per GO 255.09 (Modified Duty). The
employee shall remain on modified duty until he or she qualifies pursuant to this policy.
(3) the Range Master who witnessed t he failure to qualify shall prepare a
memorandum documenting the failure to qualify.(a) The memorandum shall document probable cause for the failure.(b) This memorandum shall be submitted to the employee’s division
manager or watch commander the day the employee fails to qualify.
(c