COURSE GOAL:
The course will provide the student with the minimum topics of tactical firearms and lethal force required in the POST perishable skills program (PSP). The objective of this program is to maintain, improve, and update members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department with their handgun skills necessary for the safe transition from a traditional double action handgun to a striker fired handgun. This additional training will further reduce the possibilities, and lessen the frequency, of an unintentional discharge.
This course consists of hands on/practical skills firearms training for in-service deputies. The training will be presented in a 16 hour format.
TACTICAL FIREARMS:
Minimum Topics/Exercises:
a. Basic tactical situations
b. Student evaluation & testing
c. Safety guidelines/orientation
d. Sight alignment, trigger control, accuracy
e. Target recognition and analysis
f. Weapons clearing
g. Live fire tactical
h. Policy and legal issues
i. Use of force considerations (options)
j. Moral obligations
k. Judgment and decision making
l. Live fire application
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
A. Demonstrate knowledge of the Department Use of Force/Firearms Policy.
B. Demonstrate a minimum standard of tactical handgun proficiency with every technique, exercise and course of fire to include:
1. Judgment and decision making
2. Weapons safety
3. Basic presentation technique
4. Fundamentals of shooting
5. Lethal/Non-lethal threat identification
6. Speed, accuracy, and effectiveness under stress and movement conditions
7. Shot placement: stopping power - multiple rounds
Minimum standards of performance shall be evaluated by an instructor observing the student during their performance of each technique, exercise and course of fire. If the student does not meet the minimum standards, reasonable remedial training will be provided until the standard is met.
EXPANDED COURSE OUTLINE
I. Introduction/Orientation
A. Introduction, registration, and orientation.
B. Course objectives, overview of the training, evaluation.
C. Issuance of safety equipment (if needed by the student).
II. Lethal Force Overview **These topics are reviewed on the firing line at individual ranges and are continuously reinforced throughout the training**
A. Legal/moral/ethical issues involving use of force/lethal force.
B. Civil implications of using force/lethal force.
C. Review of Department Policy regarding use of force/lethal force.
D. Review of Department firearms policy.
E. Use of force within the spectrum of force options.
LEARNING NEED - FIREARMS SAFETY
Peace officers must know and practice all procedures for the safe handling of all firearms while on and off duty.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
III. Firearms Safety
A. State the four fundamental rules of firearms safety
B. Explain basic safety guidelines to be followed at a firing range
1. Keep your handgun in the holster until you are told otherwise.
2. If you do not understand the directions or course of fire, keep your gun pointed downrange and raise your non-gun hand. Do not turn around or step off the line.
3. Always maintain safe control of your gun. Do not leave firearms unattended.
4. Eye and ear protection must be worn.
5. Follow all range rules.
6. Follow instructor commands.
7. Maintain strict weapon discipline and muzzle control.
8. Do not pick up anything from off the ground until the firing line is clear.
Department personnel shall review and practice tactical/combat handgun techniques. These exercises are designed to include all basic fundamentals regarding the use of the student’s duty handgun. These drills include rapid decision making, shoot/no-shoot decisions, multiple targets, positional shooting, use of cover and movement to cover. The student will be evaluated on the skills reviewed and practiced during these courses of fire. At the conclusion of the handgun tactical training, the student will be able to demonstrate basic handgun fundamentals, including the safe handling, loading, and clearing of their duty handgun. Additionally, they will be able to demonstrate the fundamentals needed for accurate and effective fire.
Department personnel may use this class to be trained in the nomenclature, function, and use of an optional department approved striker fired handgun. This training will allow personnel currently trained on, and carrying an authorized hammer-fire handgun, to deploy and use a department approved striker fire handgun.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
IV. Tactical Handgun Training
A. Shooting fundamentals (live fire)
1. Drawing and presenting from the holster
2. Sight alignment, trigger control and accuracy
3. Target recognition and analysis
4. Weapons manipulation (administrative loading and unloading or clearing)
B. Marksmanship Courses of Fire (live fire)
1. Two hand point shoulder shooting
2. One hand point shoulder shooting
3. Various target sizes
4. Multiple round count drills
a. 1 round, 2 rounds, 3 rounds
b. Cadence drills
C. Malfunction clearance (live fire)
1. Phase I malfunction clearing
a. Tap the base of the magazine
b. Invert the gun to assist clearing malfunction
c. Rack out the malfunction (if needed) chambering another round
2. Phase II malfunction clearing
a. Lock the slide to the rear
b. Rip out the magazine
c. Rack out the malfunction (if needed)
d. Load the magazine and chamber another round
D. Combat Courses of Fire (live fire)
1. Two hand draws
2. Loading
a. Administrative loading/unloading
b. Tactical reloads
c. Emergency reloads
3. Close Quarter Battle distances
a. 3yds, 4yds, 7 yds., 10 yds., 15 yards
4. Long Distance
a. 25 yards, 50 yards, 75 yards
E. Shooting from positions of cover (live fire)
1. Present the general basic concepts on using cover
a. Don’t present yourself unless you can defend yourself
b. Keep your eye on the threat
c. Don’t Crowd Your Cover/Don’t Extend Pass Your Cover
d. If you lose sight of your threat, Change Your Position
2. Present common instances when cover use will change
a. Angle of threat changes
b. Number of suspects changes
c. Use of light in darkness
d. Moving to upgrade cover
3. Reminding to “slice the pie”
4. Side-stepping into cover
5. Shooting from a kneeling position of cover
F. Shooting while moving (live fire)
1. Shooting while moving forward
2. Shooting while moving laterally
3. Shooting while moving backward
G. Decision Making Drills (live fire)
1. Various Distances
a. 3yds, 4yds, 7 yds, 10 yds, 15 yards
2. Changing Target Orders
a. Targets shot from left to right
b. Targets shot from right to left
3. Changing target locations
a. No-Shoot Targets mixed with Shoot Targets
b. Shoot targets demand shots fired
c. No-Shoot targets demand verbal commands
d. No-Shoot targets demand change of trigger finger placement
V. LEARNING NEED - SCENARIO BASED TACTICAL/SITUATIONAL TRAINING
Department personnel will participate in target identification and decision making training exercises, each of which employs the use of the handgun
A. Room Entry and Clearing Drill (live fire)
1. Review and practice room entry and clearing techniques
2. Live fire entry and clearing with a handgun
3. Target discrimination with Shoot/No-Shoot targets
VI. EVALUATION PROCESS
Students will be evaluated by the staff continuously throughout the training. The staff will observe and evaluate students in the following areas: safety, manipulations (including weapons handling and use of equipment), and handgun accuracy. Any student observed to have deficiencies in these areas will be given remedial training by the Weapons Training Staff until they demonstrate improvement.
VII. ORIGINATION DATE
Effective date of outline: 09/12/2019