Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Nearly 1 in 8 Pittsburgh police officers failed to pass the state’s updated firearms recertification test, a recent report by Target 11 News reveals.
Acting Pittsburgh Chief of Police Tom Stangrecki. (Photo: Target 11 News)
At least 100 of the 830 officers on the force did not get the 94 needed to pass the timed exam that requires participants to shoot from a span of distances, ranging from 3 feet to 75 feet, and from various positions, including standing and kneeling.
Each officer gets 25 rounds to hit 25 targets. Each target is worth five points, which means a perfect score is 125.
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One officer scored below 40, sources told Target 11 News.
“It is shameful that so many officers can’t pass the firearms test. That’s unsettling,” said Beth Pittinger of the Pittsburgh Citizens Police Review Board.
The city does not fire officers who fail the test. They are allowed to keep taking the test until they pass it.
It’s not clear how many failed on the second or the third or even the fourth go-around. But the department removes the officers who fail from field duty until they successfully re-certify.
“Our academy is looking at providing more extensive training, including firearms,” said Acting Chief of Police Tom Stangrecki in a recent briefing.
As it stands, many police departments around the country, including Pittsburgh, only require their officers to recertify once a year.
Any LEOs out there? How often do you need to recertify?
Also, do the officers you work with train frequently? Thanks in advance for your feeback!