Question for LEO in CA

[IceKnight366]

I recently spoke to an officer in CA that said he, and other officers, are not allowed to practice shooting anywhere outside of two areas 1) Police ranges or 2) Those few select places policy agencies have designated are safe for police to shoot, irregardless of whether they are on OR off duty. That seems strange. That means police can't shoot at public ranges, they can't shoot on private property, they can't shoot on BLM land, etc...

What about training courses? What if they wanted to train with Travis Haley or John Lovell? What if it's family tradition to camp out at BLM land and shoot with the family? What if you have a friend or family, who is not a LEO, whom you like to shoot with regularly at gun ranges? Are all of these off limits? Is if different for different agencies? What are people's experiences with this?

For respect and privacy reasons I'm not going to state the city in which I spoke to this officer.

Thank you!

[phdo]

[DentonandSasquatchShow]

Maybe he was talking about his service firearm.

[0ddl0t]

Maybe he meant while in uniform? I shoot with LEO all the time at all sorts of ranges (including one officer's backyard range)

[nadodave]

I see lots of ranges offer membership discounts for law enforcement, so something must be not quite accurate.

[phdo]

Maybe he was talking about his service firearm.

[badfish71]

I recently spoke to an officer in CA that said he, and other officers, are not allowed to practice shooting anywhere outside of two areas 1) Police ranges or 2) Those few select places policy agencies have designated are safe for police to shoot, irregardless of whether they are on OR off duty. That seems strange. That means police can't shoot at public ranges, they can't shoot on private property, they can't shoot on BLM land, etc...

What about training courses? What if they wanted to train with Travis Haley or John Lovell? What if it's family tradition to camp out at BLM land and shoot with the family? What if you have a friend or family, who is not a LEO, whom you like to shoot with regularly at gun ranges? Are all of these off limits? Is if different for different agencies? What are people's experiences with this?

For respect and privacy reasons I'm not going to state the city in which I spoke to this officer.

Thank you!

Not totally far fetched. There MAY be a department with such a policy. That being said it is not a common policy I have ever heard.

[Yodaman]

Not totally far fetched. There MAY be a department with such a policy. That being said it is not a common policy I have ever heard.

[phroggunner]

I think the most likely explanation is he was just making excuses not to shoot with the op.

[Yodaman]

I think the most likely explanation is he was just making excuses not to shoot with the op.

Hahaha could be.

[OCEquestrian]

I recently spoke to an officer in CA that said he, and other officers, are not allowed to practice shooting anywhere outside of two areas 1) Police ranges or 2) Those few select places policy agencies have designated are safe for police to shoot, irregardless of whether they are on OR off duty. That seems strange. That means police can't shoot at public ranges, they can't shoot on private property, they can't shoot on BLM land, etc...

What about training courses? What if they wanted to train with Travis Haley or John Lovell? What if it's family tradition to camp out at BLM land and shoot with the family? What if you have a friend or family, who is not a LEO, whom you like to shoot with regularly at gun ranges? Are all of these off limits? Is if different for different agencies? What are people's experiences with this?

For respect and privacy reasons I'm not going to state the city in which I spoke to this officer.

Thank you!

Highly unlikely.. what you ran into is a common type of LEO who only practices the couple times a year when he has to qualify...

Departments only use certain ranges for "official" training / qualifying.

[Rogue187]

Sounds like an officer with no motivation to shoot or practice beyond what is required by department standards.

Most departments will provide ammo for the officer if they are shooting the department gun. My prior department required us to carry our duty and only the duty gun. They provided holsters for however you wanted to carry the gun.

Only requirement was the duty gun.

You really cannot restrict an officer from seeking out additional training for the betterment of himself and perhaps the department.

Sorry but you got fed a line of crap.

[Neil McCauley]

[OCEquestrian]

Yup.. just another tool on the belt...

[scott36153]

I recently spoke to an officer in CA that said he, and other officers, are not allowed to practice shooting anywhere outside of two areas 1) Police ranges or 2) Those few select places policy agencies have designated are safe for police to shoot, irregardless of whether they are on OR off duty. That seems strange. That means police can't shoot at public ranges, they can't shoot on private property, they can't shoot on BLM land, etc...

What about training courses? What if they wanted to train with Travis Haley or John Lovell? What if it's family tradition to camp out at BLM land and shoot with the family? What if you have a friend or family, who is not a LEO, whom you like to shoot with regularly at gun ranges? Are all of these off limits? Is if different for different agencies? What are people's experiences with this?

For respect and privacy reasons I'm not going to state the city in which I spoke to this officer.

Thank you!

I have 17 years on the job and can tell you that is 100% false. On duty in uniform yes we can only shoot at a department range for qualification/training. But off duty we can shoot any place it is legal to do so.