Recommendations for young, wannabe police officer

[Old Grump]

Sixtigers are you recommending that police officers should not know how to shoot or be familiar with guns. That is confusing advice for a gun forum. If I was a screener trying to find qualified police officers I would definitely want somebody with some familiarity and with a comfort level with firearms of all types.

 

[JackBurtonJr]

There IS a violent, physical component to what we do but your future LEO is far more likely to get into a hand-to-hand brawl with an unarmed person than into a gunfight--has he ever been punched (REALLY punched) in the face? Does he know how to wrestle or grapple? Does he know what it's like to get the wind knocked out of him or get hit from behind and still have to fight off an attacker? THESE are the lifesaving skills that he should learn before getting on the job long before he needs to worry about shooting.

The kid's six inches taller than me 35 years younger, and outweighs me by 40 pounds. I'll let you punch him in the face to show him how it feels.

Seriously, you bring up good points but I'm not in any way qualified to teach him any of those other important things that you mention. I can teach him the Four Rules though.

We actually spent more time going over the concept of the handgun as the symbol of police authority, and the need for "peace officers" vs. stormtroopers than we did out at the range.

But he's a good kid. Just like a big puppy. I don't want to see him hurt because he falls under the influence of so many other LEOs -- negligent of how to properly use his primary deadly weapon.

 

[Jeff White]

I'm with DMF, don't get into any kind of firearms training with him. He may pick up habits that will conflict with what he's taught at the academy and have to unlearn them.

If you want to help him in his future profession get him some classes in English composition, writing, grammar and punctuation. A good deal of his job will be about how well he can communicate in writing. Another helpful thing would be to learn Spanish. I doubt there is any place in the lower 48 where the ability to speak Spanish wouldn't be very handy.

I don't want to see him hurt because he falls under the influence of so many other LEOs -- negligent of how to properly use his primary deadly weapon.

Then share your love for shooting with him. Let him find out for himself that it's a fun activity to be enjoyed. He's going to be working long, odd hours, he will have a family and other things demanding his time. If shooting isn't something he enjoys for recreation, he's probably not going to be any more proficient then his employer requires. It's not the influence of other officers that keeps an officer form being as proficient as you'd like him to be, it's the officer himself. If it's important to him, he'll do it. If it's just another job requirement, it probably won't be.

Jeff

 

[M203Sniper]

you did a good thing Jack, Ignore what these other guys are rambling about; Your kid will remember the guy that showed him the basics that one time before the academy...










and that's a good thing for a lot more reasons than sight alignment and sight picture.

 

[JackBurtonJr]

you did a good thing Jack,

Actually, he's going out to AZ for his job. He says the cities are hiring in large quantities and he thinks he has an excellent opportunity to snag one.

Around here there are about 100 applicants for every job opening, and much of the hiring is political anyway.

 

[MarcusWendt]

Tell him to join the Fire Dept. Everyone likes Firemen.

 

[CountGlockula]

Actually, DO NOT DO ANYTHING regarding firearms with him.

Most academies, want fresh off the boat recruits. If he is accepted into the academy, he may have some hesistation when the PD Firearms Instructors show him a different method of shooting.

So, encourage him to be open to all types of methods. A friend was rejected because he owned too many guns; therefore the department labeled him as a "liability" and can't risk having him in the force.

 

[okiebuckout]

Its always nice to have experience with firearms, but not always necessary. Just look at our military. I served 10 years in the army and believe me, there where plenty of new cruits that had never picked up a rifle or any firearm for that matter. As long as they have a desire to learn and a head on their shoulders they do alright.

 

[Gordon Fink]

I know a young man who wants to be a police officer. He’s the kind of guy we need to encourage—bright, affable, with a real servant’s heart.

However, he’s never, ever shot a handgun before.…

His lack of firearms experience is irrelevant. He will learn everything his department wants him to know during training.

That said, I would encourage him not to become a police officer.

~G. Fink

 

[Old Grump]

Somebody has to be a policeman Mr. Fink and it sounds like this young man might be the kind any department and any community would want.