Definitions for the Requalification Program
Division issued is defined as any Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle / Sighted rifle that is issued to an officer or facility. All officers must qualify with their Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope Rifle / Sighted Rifle. If a Primary Duty Shotgun is issued to a facility then every trained officer at the facility shall qualify with it annually. If a Primary Duty Rifle is issued to a facility then every trained officer at the facility shall qualify with it annually. If a Scope Rifle / Sighted Rifle is issued to a facility then every trained officer at the facility shall qualify with it annually.
- RSO: Range Safety Officer / Range officer / Instructor
- Target: The OPOTA Q-1, Q-2 or RQT1 will be used
- Preferred Area: The central portion of the target to include the head of the target. Any round that breaks the black line of the preferred area is scored as a preferred area hit. When half an OPOTA target is used the preferred area will be all the space from the other line to the inside edge of the paper.
- Scoring System Handgun, Second Weapon, and Patrol Rifle: Full diameter holes will be counted as hits in the Preferred Area of the target. All rounds outside of the preferred area will be counted as a miss.
- Scoring System Shotgun: Buckshot will be scored when the majority of the pellets (5 of 9) hit in the Preferred Area of the target. Rifled slugs, full diameter holes will be counted as hits in the Preferred Area. Each stage must equal eighty percent (80%) of the total number of rounds shot in the stage. All rounds outside of the preferred area will be counted as a miss.
- Number of Rounds: Shooters will not be penalized for firing more than the minimum number of rounds at each target. However, all misses will be counted against the minimum number of rounds required.
- Ready Position Handgun, Second Weapon: Officer standing in an interview stance with hands held above waist, handgun secured in the holster.
- Secured in the Holster: The handgun is holstered and all retention devices are engaged
- Chest Ready: Handgun held at chest level with barrel parallel to the ground. Weapon can be held with dominant or non-dominant hand with or without support hand.
- Shoulder Ready Position Shotgun / Rifle: Shooter standing wearing the sling, if equipped. The butt of the weapon is on the shoulder. The muzzle is pointed slightly downward in a safe direction. The dominate hand has a firm grip on the stock at the pistol grip of the weapon. The shooter should be in condition 1.
- Sling equipped long gun: When a long gun is equipped with a tactical sling the sling will be properly worn by the Officer at the beginning of every stage. The sling may be removed by the Officer anytime after the stage begins.
- Low Level Light Conditions: These conditions may be simulated by the use of darkened face shields or goggles. The level will be reached when the front and rear sites are unable to be used or instructor call on conditions.
- Barricade Use / Cover / Concealment: The shooter shall utilize the barricade properly using distance 6’ and maximum cover.
- Target Spacing: The targets are setup in a group of five across. Each target should be separated by 5 foot on center.
- Multiple Targets: When the shooter is presented with more than one target, the shooter must determine tactically which order the targets should be engaged.
Firearms Qualification Course
Ohio Department of Natural Resource will submit to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission all firearm courses of fire for approval as a qualification standard for commissioned officer requalification. Every officer will qualify annually by December 31st of that calendar year with all approved firearms for carry.
The requalification program will consist of courses of fire for Primary Duty Handgun, Second handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Scoped Rifle/Sighted Rifle, Scope Sighted Centerfire Rifle, Department Authorized Handgun, Department Authorized Rifle, Specialized Duty Handgun
Once qualifications begin, there will be no additional practice or training until qualifications are completed.
ODNR officers may shoot with another Division as long as it is agreed upon by the Division’s Law Enforcement Sections and the officer brings their Division’s ammunition/equipment.
ODNR officers must complete each stage of fire within the requalification program with a score of eighty percent or greater (per stage).
ODNR officers will be given three attempts at each stage for each requalification to show proficiency.
If an ODNR officer fails after the third attempt on a stage during the requalification program the ODNR disciplinary process will begin. However, officers will only have to shoot the stage they failed by receiving three additional attempts.
Each stage of fire will begin when a Range Safety Officer (RSO) gives a tone or target turns or command. The RSO may also give a “move” command to start the movement and then a tone or command to start the time of the stage.
Disciplinary Guidelines:
A. Failure to pass a Department Firearms Qualification Course with any Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle, sighted rifle provides just cause to initiate disciplinary action.
B. These guidelines shall be followed regarding the issuance of discipline at the various Sessions of qualification. Disciplinary action will be taken after each failed Session. Consistent with the disciplinary provisions of the contract, reprimands will remain in effect for 12 months and suspensions for 24 months. Failure to qualify over successive attempts will result in progressive disciplinary actions.
I. First Session Qualification - At annual firearm qualifications an officer will be given three attempts to demonstrate proficiency. One passing attempt will show proficiency.
Officers are qualified for that calendar year with the firearm they qualified with.
1. Disciplinary action will be initiated consistent with the departmental policy for commissioned officers failure to qualify.
2. Placed on administrative duty or leave immediately after failing to qualify on that course of fire:
a. While on administrative duty, the officer will not have the authority to make arrests or be authorized to carry the Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle, Sighted rifle or Department Authorized Handgun/Rifle.
b. Officer will not wear the Divisions uniform, except when training and/or participating in the Second Session Qualification
c. The officer must be scheduled and complete the Second Session Qualification within 5 working days of the initial failure. \
d. The officer will be assigned to a Division firearm instructor for an individualized training program. The firearm instructor will evaluate and determine the guidelines for this training. The firearm instructor will document the individualized training. The Division Law
Enforcement Section will designate the guidelines for this training. The Division firearm instructor may conduct the re-qualification at the completion of the individualized training within the five day requirement for re-qualification. The instructor may have the officer report to another location for the second session qualification. When re-qualifying, the officer will only shoot the failed stage of that qualification course of fire. However if the Department goes to an aggregate scoring system then the officer shall shoot all the stages
II. Second Session Qualification - An officer will be given three attempts to demonstrate proficiency. One passing attempt will show proficiency.
Officers are qualified for that calendar year with the firearm they qualified with.
1. Disciplinary action will be initiated consistent with the departmental policy for commissioned officers failure to qualify.
2. Placed on administrative duty or leave immediately after failing to qualify on that course of fire:
a. While on administrative duty, the officer will not have the authority to make arrests, or be authorized to carry the Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle, sighted rifle or Department Authorized Handgun/Rifle.
b. Officer will not wear the Divisions uniform, except when scheduled for the Second Session Remedial Training Program and/or participating in the Third Session Qualification.
c. The officer must be scheduled and complete the Third Session Qualification within 5 working days of the initial failure.
d. The officer will be assigned to a Division firearm instructor for the Second Session Remedial Training Program. The firearm instructor will document the remedial training. The Division Law Enforcement Section will designate the guidelines for this training. The division firearm instructor may conduct the qualification at the completion of the remedial session within the five day requirement for re-qualification. The instructor may have the officer report to another location for the Third Session Qualification. When qualifying, the officer will only shoot the failed stage of that qualification course of fire. However if the Department goes to an aggregate scoring system then the officer shall shoot all the stages
III. Third Session - An officer will be given three attempts to demonstrate proficiency. One passing attempt will show proficiency.
Officers are qualified for that calendar year with the firearm they qualified with.
1. Disciplinary action will be initiated consistent with the departmental policy for commissioned officers failure to qualify.
2. Placed on administrative duty or leave immediately after failing to qualify on that course of fire:
a. While on administrative duty, the officer will not have the authority to make arrests, or be authorized to carry the Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle, sighted rifle or Department Authorized Handgun/Rifle.
b. Officer will not wear the Divisions uniform, except when scheduled for the Third Session Remedial Training Program and/or participating in the Fourth Session Qualification.
c. The officer must be scheduled and complete the Fourth Session Qualification within 5 working days of the initial failure.
d. The officer will be assigned to a Division firearm instructor for the Fourth Session Remedial Training Program. . The firearm instructor will document the remedial training The Division Law Enforcement Section will designate the guidelines for this training. The division firearm instructor may conduct the qualification at the completion of the remedial session within the five day requirement for re-qualification. The instructor may have the officer report to another location for the Fourth Session Qualification. When qualifying, the officer will only shoot the failed stage of that qualification course of fire. However if the Department goes to an aggregate scoring system then the officer shall shoot all the stages
IV. Fourth Session - An officer will be given three attempts to demonstrate proficiency. One passing attempt will show proficiency.
Officers are qualified for that calendar year with the firearm they qualified with.
1. Disciplinary action will be initiated consistent with the departmental policy for commissioned officers failure to qualify.
2. Placed on administrative duty or leave immediately after failing to qualify on that course of fire:
a. While on administrative duty, the officer will not have the authority to make arrests, or be authorized to carry the Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle, sighted rifle or Department Authorized Handgun/Rifle.
b. Officer will not wear the Divisions uniform, except when scheduled for the Fifth Session Remedial Training Program and/or participating in the Fifth Session Qualification.
c. The officer must be scheduled and complete the Fifth Session Qualification within 5 working days of the initial failure.
d. The officer will be assigned to a Division firearm instructor for the Fifth Session Remedial Training Program. The firearm instructor will document the remedial training The Division Law Enforcement Section will designate the guidelines for this training. The division firearm instructor may conduct the qualification at the completion of the remedial session within the five day requirement for re-qualification. The instructor may have the officer report to another location for the Fifth Session Qualification. When qualifying, the officer will only shoot the failed stage of that qualification course of fire. However if the Department goes to an aggregate scoring system then the officer shall shoot all the stages
V. Fifth Session Qualification - An officer will be given three attempts to demonstrate proficiency. One passing attempt will show proficiency.
Officers are qualified for that calendar year with the firearm they qualified with.
1. Officer will be placed on administrative duty or leave until a pre-disciplinary termination hearing can be scheduled for failure to qualify.
2. While on administrative duty or leave, the officer will not have the authority to make arrests. A Commissioned Exempt Employee will retain the officer’s Primary Duty Handgun, Primary Duty Shotgun, Primary Duty Rifle, Division Issued Scope rifle, sighted rifle badges and a hand receipt will be issued.
3. Officer will not wear the Divisions uniform.
Exemptions
Physical restrictions will be acknowledged when a documented, medical excuse is presented at the time of qualification. Documented permanent physical restrictions will be acknowledged and where practicable, an alternative firing sequence may be agreed upon before qualification. Alternative firing sequences must be approved by OPOTA.
New hire training and qualifications may be completed on the same day.
Failure to qualify due to a substantiated equipment/ammunition problem, not the fault of the officer, will allow the officer to re-attempt each of previous attempts if a problem existed.
If an officer is on disability leave during firearm qualification, the officer must re-qualify if his calendar year qualifications expire.
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