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How many of us go to the range shoot paper targets and clean our weapons and get back in service? It has been long known that the firearms training most departments implement aren’t adequate enough for what officers experience while in the field. Just a few years ago my department began making officers do misfire and mis-feed drills as part of our annual training. I must admit I whined and moaned just like everyone else and just wanted to shoot my paper targets while standing on the yard line and leave. But deep down I know that what they were training us on might save my life one day.
A perfect example of the need for this training comes from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. On April 11th of this year officers responded to an armed mental consumer call where a man with a history of mental illness was armed and threatening neighbors. After officers made scene 66 year old Donald Allen approached them with a loaded .22-caliber pistol while making threatening statements. Officers ordered Allen to drop the weapon several times; however, he refused and continued to advance on officers. At that point Officer Brian Barnett, fired several shots killing Allen.
What is not talked about by the media is Barnett’s weapon malfunction during the shooting. In the video you see Barnett fire several shots striking the suspect, at that point his weapon appears to “stove pipe”, when the spent shell casing is not ejected all the way and becomes stuck in the chamber. Barnett is able to clear his stove pipe, manually chamber another round, and get back on target in a matter of seconds. While the suspect was already neutralized, if he was able to return fire Barnett was ready to get back into the fight. This is how you ensure that you and your partner go home every day. While it can be annoying this training is necessary.
A perfect example of the need for this training comes from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. On April 11th of this year officers responded to an armed mental consumer call where a man with a history of mental illness was armed and threatening neighbors. After officers made scene 66 year old Donald Allen approached them with a loaded .22-caliber pistol while making threatening statements. Officers ordered Allen to drop the weapon several times; however, he refused and continued to advance on officers. At that point Officer Brian Barnett, fired several shots killing Allen.
What is not talked about by the media is Barnett’s weapon malfunction during the shooting. In the video you see Barnett fire several shots striking the suspect, at that point his weapon appears to “stove pipe”, when the spent shell casing is not ejected all the way and becomes stuck in the chamber. Barnett is able to clear his stove pipe, manually chamber another round, and get back on target in a matter of seconds. While the suspect was already neutralized, if he was able to return fire Barnett was ready to get back into the fight. This is how you ensure that you and your partner go home every day. While it can be annoying this training is necessary.