TheThe CaseCase HeadHead The Official Publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association © 2009 MLEFIAA FALL 2009 2009 FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR CONFERENCE ISSUE © 2009 MLEFIAA Page 1 The Case Head The official publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association P.O. Box 253, Princeton, MA 01541-0253 MISSION STATEMENT The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors' & Armorers' Association was formed to promote pro- fessionalism, continuing education, improvement in training methods and techniques of the proper law enforce- ment use of firearms in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Association strives to promote and foster mutual cooperation between instructors. Through discussion and a common interest in law enforcement firearms training, officer survival and tactical skills, MLEFIAA hopes to keep the members at the forefront of firearms training. Through our monthly meetings and annual training confer- ence, we provide a means for the exchange of ideas and information regarding law enforcement firearms training, training methods, educational activities and new firearms technologies. MLEFIAA currently has over 400 members. While mainly from Massachusetts, our membership extends interna- tionally to countries as far away as Sweden. The Association endeavors to secure new members from the law en- forcement training community who are engaged in the field of firearms training, maintenance, education or related fields. Our goal is to continuously upgrade the level of firearms training of law enforcement personnel here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Membership is offered at two levels - Active & Associate. Active membership is open to all duly sworn law en- forcement officers of any local, county, state, federal or specialized law enforcement agency within the Common- wealth of Massachusetts; whose official duties include the training of law enforcement personnel in the proper use of firearms; or whose duties involve the maintenance and repair of firearms for their respective agencies. Associate membership is open to sworn law enforcement firearms instructors and armorers from agencies outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, non-sworn firearms instructors & armorers working within an agency within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and representatives of private industry who are engaged in the de- sign, development, manufacture, or training in firearms, ammunition and other related technologies designed for law enforcement use. Complete details can be found at our website: www.MLEFIAA.org Articles & Letters to the Editor Articles and letters should be no more than 1000 words in length and submitted in MS Word. Any photos should be in JPEG format. MLEFIAA encourages a healthy discussion of training issues but we require that you keep it level headed and respect opposing views. You do not have to agree, but we will not publish articles that are in- flammatory or otherwise do not uphold the reputation of this Association. Copyright 2007 Mass. Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association The Case Head is the official publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association and is published quar- terly for the benefit of the membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Editor and the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association. The articles, views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association, the Executive Board or it’s members. © 2009 MLEFIAA Page 2 In This Issue Officer Issues Page 2 Monthly 2009 Conference A Huge Success Page 3 Meeting Product Review: Safety Bullet Page 3 Calendar New Book From Mike Conti Page 5 Oct 27, 2009 Is Current Firearms Qualification Obsolete? Page 6 Westminster PD Develop 2010 Training Schedule Conference & M16 Armorer School Photos Page 7-10 Nov 24, 2009 Instructor Issues extinguish their lights and esting one of my other instruc- Sig-Sauer Acad. in move laterally. If the com- tors told me he witnessed an- Epping, NH The following question was re- mand "cover the threat” is other officer have a round go ceived by MLEFIAA from a mem- given, they are to illuminate off when it should not have. December 2009 ber. The names and department the suspect and move laterally My instructor immediately No meeting - have been removed. The mate- keeping the suspect illumi- went over and spoke to the Merry Christmas rial is included here with the nated but not fire. This is to shooter who confessed that he permission of the submitter for get them used to the idea they messed up and put his finger the benefit of all. January 2010 will not always have to fire on the trigger when he should Smith & Wesson I want to run something by just because they have their not have. The other instructor Springfield, MA you and get your opinion. My weapon out. In August during worked with him for a bit and (elections) agency recently transitioned our initial two day transition re-stressed the rules of safe to the M&P in .40 with we did these drills during the gun handling. The officer was February 2010 Streamlight TLR-1 lights for day to get officers used to the watched the rest of the training TBA everybody. Everyone was controls etc their were with no further incidents. given 4 hours of class room no issues. Both incidents were docu- March 2010 training followed by 12 hours During the "cover the sus- mented. TBA of range time. About 700 pect" command, my K-9 fired What do you think? a round. My officer immedi- rounds per officer were fired April 2010 ately blamed it on the fact he There is no question in my mind using this pistol/light/holster TBA had to squeeze the lights acti- that his finger was on the trigger. combo. vation pad and he claims this One of the biggest reasons we My K-9 Officer had a prob- May 2010 is a problem and his finger stress keeping your finger off the lem. He could not activate Instructor Recert curled into the trigger. I be- trigger is because when the body the TLR light with his support TBA lieve he had his finger off the is stressed, certain physical reac‐ side hand because of his dog trigger but in the trigger guard tions occur as a result of the etc. Our training is that the June 2010 or on the trigger itself. adrenalin dump. One of these is trigger finger is never used to Instructor Recert During the classroom the for the body to “crouch” and for activate the light. The K-9 TBA activation of the light etc. was muscles to stiffen in anticipation Officer was purchased a Sure- of fight or flight. As the grip on gone over, power points were fire X-300 light with a pres- the weapon increases, a finger on July & Aug 2010 shown etc. Safety rules (keep sure pad switch. the trigger is likely to apply pres‐ No meeting - your finger off the trigger) was Last night during our night sure on it – perhaps even to the Summer Vacation pounded into them. Officers shoot we were doing a drill point where the weapon will also had to sign a range rules involving the use of the fire. This is also a problem when September 2010 weapon lights. On the com- safety sheet and even on this we are startled. its states they will keep their Annual Training mand “threat”, the officers are His weapon fired while he was Conference to draw their weapons and fingers off the trigger, outside COVERING the threat. There is illuminate the target. If the the trigger guard with the fin- only one way this can happen – he Watch your E-mail for command “gun” or “knife” is ger held alongside the weap- pressed the trigger which means last minute changes and given they are to shoot the ons frame. his finger was on the trigger. This details appropriate number of rounds, To make things more inter- is a major violation of Rule 2 – © 2009 MLEFIAA Page 3 2009 Conference Was A Huge Success! Despite the poor economy and the popularity of the event. The tation. Even ILEETA and IALEFI shrinking training budgets, almost 70 MLEFIAA conference is also the can not match the quality of our train- firearms instructors and armorers at- most cost effective multi-topic train- ing for the cost to the student. If you tended the annual Instructor Develop- ing in New England. Nowhere else have not attended a MLEFIAA con- ment Conference this year. As in the can a law enforcement firearms in- ference, you are missing out on a past, the Vendor Product Expo was structor get their choice of two dozen good deal and great training. held at the Devens Common Confer- training topics over four days for less There will be a debrief at the Octo- ence Center along with several class- than $200. Similar programs at Gun- ber meeting and the conference com- room sessions throughout the day. site, Thunder Ranch and the Chap- mittee will be discussing ideas for man Academy cost about $1000 for From Wednesday to Friday, the 2010. Please attend to find out more. the week and that is before you pay training moved to the range facilities for your lodging, meals and transpor- of the Harvard Sportsman’s Club. A total of 24 different training programs was offered during the week including a MPTC recertification, LEOSA Re- tiree Qualification and initial certifica- tions in Tactical Flashlight Instructor and Specialty Impact Munitions. The MLEFIAA Instructor Confer- ence is truly an international event with instructors traveling to attend from as far away as Sweden.