Surprized by the inaccuracy of a LEO

[Slamfire]

In the lane next to me was a LEO shooting at the same type target as me (a standard B-27 silhouette) at the same distance (10 yards).

Good for her! At least she was out practicing.

You missed the most important issue: Was she cute?

If yes, you are the dummy for not introducing yourself.

Nerds.....

 

[nitetrane98]

As a Tax Payer I believe it is a reasonable expectation that the LEO's in my Town and County know how to shoot at least good enough to pass the TX CCW Test.

You do realize that this is, in fact, the case?
Would it be a reasonable expectation to believe that the tax payer should pay for an officer to have to exceed these requirements or even to become good enough to meet them. Or should it be a requirement that all prospective LEOs know how to shoot better than a dedicated hobbyist before they can be considered for employment?
How about pursuit driving and penal code/code of criminal procedure knowledge? The list goes on.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Surprized by the inaccuracy of a LEO

As a gun forum, we tend to focus on shooting skills. So we get surprised or disappointed when we learn or see cops who are not outstanding marksmen. We think they should be because they carry guns and may need them to save their own lives or the lives of others. True enough.

However, the job of a cop is hugely broad. To be the best cops they need to be, they need to be experts in the law, psychology, driving, traffic control, crowd control, observation, interrogation, hand-to-hand combat, less-lethal weapons, lethal weapons, public relations, and so on. They need to be peak physical condition and have a natural predisposition to working well with folks regardless of how critical the circumstances might be. As a first responder to all sorts of situations, cops need medical training. They need to have mental GPS systems such that they know every road, path, shortcut, etc. in any area in which they might need to go. And they need to be able to do all that and more quite bravely without ever being reckless, never faltering under the stress of whatever horrific event is unfolding.

In reality, cops need to be superhuman to do their job in the best and most consistent way possible.

Unlike many folks in other critical professions where lives are on the line, cops don't always have the benefit of being part of a team. We never see a single fireman driving his firetruck up to a burning structure and expect him to put it out on his own, but we do expect cops to take on all manner of dangerous situations on their own.

So we expect cops to be proficient marksman, despite the fact that firing a gun in the line of duty (other than training/quals) is probably one of the tasks they will do least in their professinal careers.

Don't get me wrong. I think they need to be proficient marksmen as well. Of course I also have superhuman expectations for them for all of their other duties as well. Truth is, none will ever meet those expectations.

 

[Cigarhead]

I made the mistake of sitting at the front of the room at a CCW Class for my first permit. I knew a good bit, but was learning laws and focused on that because I was not worried about the shooting part of the test.

The person holding the class had over booked a little and it was a small room with 4 rows of completely lost people behind us, he said the worst think I have ever heard to us "Clear your weapons, double check, lay it locked open on the desk, if it's a revolver open the cylinder and lay it on the desk."

About then I started hearing what would be the equivalent of 30 7 year olds triggers dropping on empty chambers slides slamming, jams and I actually heard "do I have to pull this back to open it" and me and my friend put our heads down and prayed for the 3 minutes it happened while my ass pulled splinters off my wooden chair.
that was my scariest moment so far. But sometimes i wish I had a private lane, or some ballistic gear seeing people at the range who have no clue.


On the LEO, I think someone nailed it, some people don't "love" guns. they know it's a necessity but I do think if you can't put some kill shots on the paper consistently or even handle your weapon properly, your putting more than yourself at risk.
Everyone who needs you, works with you, etc.
You may not like computers but if you job included one you would be proficient and work hard to learn, or fired........so yes, it should be a job requirement to be proficient, and watching LAPD Academy they washed a couple people who just could not get used to even holding a gun, I have no idea why they applied.

 

[918v]

I once took a class for a permit. It was taught by a retired PD detective. He started talking about various bullet weights and velocities, and how light/fast bullets overpenetrate, and how his favorite loading for the 9mm was a "183 grain" load because it would not overpenetrate a human torso.

I, too, am scared of anyone with a loaded gun behind me.

 

[ken B]

my wife is LEO, holding the rank of SGT. She and the other SGTs and LTs she works with regularly have the 'steak dinner' bet on quals, and she is usually in the high ranks (last one was 497 out of 500). She quals twice a year (along with physical fitness quals), one for low light, sidearm and shotgun, and one general qual....

though I'm a big guy so no flaming, but I'm more in wonder how some with bigger girths and 'tonnage' than I carry pass their physical fitness quals (she says it has sprints, long distance, weights, etc)