APD lax on passing weapons exam.

O6nop · #1

I'm not sure how or why this could be an issue. The article makes it sounds like it's too much of an effort to qualify their annual exam.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/n ... 3guns.html

The idea that the Chief of Police wants to spend 1/2 million dollars on a mobile gun range. I know there is one in Austin somewhere. Why is it so much trouble to go take the test? Is it too far away? I travel 20 miles at least twice a week to practice. It can't be too much to go qualify once a year.

What are the requirements anyway, does anyone know?

frankie_the_yankee · #2

Spending a half mil on a "mobile gun range" (whatever that is) seems like a waste of taxpayers' money to me.

The new chief is from CA. That might explain it.

nitrogen · #3

I'd agree that it's a huge waste of taxpayer money.

But what does being from California have to do with it?

frankie_the_yankee · #4

nitrogen wrote:I'd agree that it's a huge waste of taxpayer money.

But what does being from California have to do with it?

CA seems to have a lot more trouble balancing its state budget than TX. This is true even though the state & local tax burden is quite a bit higher than it is here.

Public officials in CA seem to spend money more freely than those here in TX.

Turfspanker · #5

I cancelled my American Statesman subscription years ago on the basis that The Statesman is one of the most biased, liberal, anti-cop, anti-gun publications in the Nation. I refuse to support the livelihoods of the people that write and support their drivel.

Now that I have that off my chest...

The article was surprisingly balanced! They actually presented some defending statements. You have to piece the article together just a bit.

"This year, 26 officers have failed to qualify by the deadline. "
"We have 1,400 officers, and for the majority of them, it isn't an issue."
"the agency's firing range is open several days a week for officers to practice firing their weapons or to take the proficiency exam, which they do while on duty. "
"Some of it is scheduling," he said. "You have academies going on. You have weather issues. "
"it is likely that some of those officers were away on military duty or injury leave"

In essence, you have nearly 2% of the police force who missed the deadline and are then required by their commanding officer to test. They do this while on duty so it must be scheduled into their day...even if they work nights. The range is shared by Academy Cadets, SWAT, and other groups so you are limited when you can "stop in" to test.

Granted there is an entire year to test so their is rarely an excuse for missing it. In addition, ammo is free for Officers.

My wife is former APD and we spent a lot of free time practicing at our local range because the Academy range was a 45 minute drive across town and rarely available when we had time. On several occassions she went there to practice only to find the range schedule changed and SWAT or the Cadets were using it. Never-the-less she would periodically get lucky and find the range available for qualifying. It usually took several "on duty"

visits even though she was night shift.

frankie_the_yankee · #6

Turfspanker wrote: My wife is former APD and we spent a lot of free time practicing at our local range because the Academy range was a 45 minute drive across town and rarely available when we had time. On several occassions she went there to practice only to find the range schedule changed and SWAT or the Cadets were using it. Never-the-less she would periodically get lucky and find the range available for qualifying. It usually took several "on duty" visits even though she was night shift.

Would a "mobile range" have helped?

CompVest · #7

I am all for anything that removes any obstacles/excuses that keep officers form practicing and qualifying.

I would like to see departments pay for IDPA mamberships for their officers and encourage them to shoot a match at least four times a year.

angrybeavis · #8

I'm not seeing the logic in spending $500,000 for 2% of the officers.

Maybe those officers need a time management class instead. :)

Turfspanker · #9

frankie_the_yankee wrote:
Turfspanker wrote: My wife is former APD and we spent a lot of free time practicing at our local range because the Academy range was a 45 minute drive across town and rarely available when we had time. On several occassions she went there to practice only to find the range schedule changed and SWAT or the Cadets were using it. Never-the-less she would periodically get lucky and find the range available for qualifying. It usually took several "on duty" visits even though she was night shift.
Would a "mobile range" have helped?

No question.

Having a truck parked once a month at one of the nine substation for a quick 45 minute session after the shift would have just about everyone using it. No question its a convenience tool, but keep in mind that most Officers are like you and I, they have families and lives outside of work.

I think its a great idea and I would be happy to have my tax dollars funneled into something that keeps skills honed for those who Serve and Protect the community.

KD5NRH · #10

Why not just one lane at the range dedicated to requals only?

Presumably, there has to be someone there to observe/score the qualification, so it makes more sense to do it in the same place all the time.

Turfspanker · #11

angrybeavis wrote:I'm not seeing the logic in spending $500,000 for 2% of the officers.

Maybe those officers need a time management class instead. :)

Just my opinion but I seriously doubt the Mobile Range has anything to do with the Annual Qualification issue.

But The Statesman linked the two for a reason.

O6nop · #12

According to commission policies, officers must fire at least 50 rounds from their handguns "at ranges from point-blank to at least 15 yards."

Would a 40x8 foot space be sufficient? Maybe a 50' trailer?

I agree with earlier posts, that much money doesn't justify 2%, unless they start qualifying like 4 times a year.

If this is such a good idea, some CHL instructor should put up $500K and drive around town doing requalifications for CHL holders... for that much $$$ I don't think that's going to happen, but it sure would make things easier for some.

Would the $500K provide enough protection within the truck to ensure it doesn't penetrate? What would you need, 1/2" or more steel and concrete liners? Top, bottom and sides! That's a heavy load!

frankie_the_yankee · #13

O6nop wrote: I'm still wondering what it takes to do a qualification. Would a 40x8 foot space be sufficient?

I think it would have to be more like 55' long at least. The longest stage is 15 yards (45 feet). Not sure if a standard trailer would be big enough, though one could easily be made.

O6nop wrote: Would the $500K provide enough protection within the truck to ensure it doesn't penetrate? What would you need, 1/2" or more steel and concrete liners? Top, bottom and sides! That's a heavy load!

My guess is that ammo would be limited to some kind of frangible load like a Glaser or something like it. Penetration would not be an issue.

seamusTX · #14

frankie_the_yankee wrote:I think it would have to be more like 55' long at least. The longest stage is 15 yards (45 feet).

They could do what rifle shooters do and use half-size targets at 7 1/2 yards. That wouldn't work for qualification, but it would be fine for practice.

I saw some human silhouette targets like that, which someone left at the range.

- Jim

Dougmyers5 · #15

Here is an Idea give them a box of bullets and a target and let them go to any range they want to for shooting, then they can bring the target back and turn it in!

That saves APD a Half a Million Dollars.