In our most recent Citizen’s Police Academy session we met the tactical operations leader, who is also one of their firearms instructors.  I was pleased to learn that the Keller PD has a pretty stringent shooting qualification program.

The Texas minimum standards only require a peace officer to qualify once a year on a static course of fifty rounds of fire with only one timed reload.  The maximum distance is 15 yards and only 70% is required to pass.  This is only slightly more stringent than the CHL qualification (CHL doesn’t require a timed reload).

Keller PD has instituted a program that is one of the strictest in the state:

• Officers must qualify four times per year.
• A minimum of 80% is required on the test.
• The test is not static.  It requires shooting on the move and from cover.
• The test requires shooting at longer distances (25 yards).
• Officers come in “cold” to the test (no warm-up allowed).
• Both a timed and tactical reload are included.
• An officer who fails to meet 80% has 3 days to take a retest and meet the minimum.
• Failure to meet the minimum on a retest results in an immediate suspension (on the spot, and the suspension goes on the officer’s record).
• After suspension, the officer has to attend an approved handgun course of at least 40 hours at his own expense and pass the class.
• An officer who is suspended a third time on qualification will be fired.

I suppose this is an outgrowth of the fact that the chief is a former firearms instructor and sharpshooter.  A lot of police departments don’t spend much time on firearms training and qualification, which has given police in general a poor reputation with regards to marksmanship.  It’s good to know that our officers are better trained than the standards require.