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All officers, while on duty, shall carry an MPD-approved handgun that they have qualified with at the MPD Range. See Equipment-Primary Handgun section. Uniformed officers shall carry their primary handgun in a holster attached to their police utility belt. A Level II or III security holster is strongly recommended. Plainclothes officers shall wear their authorized handgun in a manner that will not attract attention or be open to public view.

Officers shall carry their Primary Handgun as their duty handgun. The exceptions are:

• Officers working in an active undercover capacity may use their Secondary Handgun as their duty handgun during these operations for officer safety purposes. (03/13/07)

• Officers working in an undercover capacity may be allowed to be unarmed based on the nature of their undercover assignment. (03/13/07)

For either exception the officer must receive approval from the Inspector or Captain of their assigned command. (03/13/07)

Officers are authorized to carry only two handguns, one primary and one secondary handgun. The secondary handgun may be carried provided it is concealed, conforms to MPD firearms specifications, and the Rangemaster certifies the officer to carry the firearm. (03/13/07)

The MPD Rangemaster will maintain a list of specific handguns that meet specifications of MPD. If an officer wishes to carry a secondary handgun that meets all of the specifications and it is not on the approved list, a sample of the proposed handgun must be submitted to the Rangemaster for testing and evaluation prior to being authorized by the department. The Rangemaster will submit a written report on the testing results to the Administration along with his/her recommendations.

An officer may only carry the specific handgun(s) he/she is certified to carry by the Rangemaster as stated on the officer's Firearms Certification Card (MP-6001).

5-402.01 OTHER FIREARMS (11/27/02)

(B)

Any officer using a firearm other than their MPD-authorized handgun must also qualify with that firearm on an MPD-approved course. Officers must qualify with other firearms annually or as determined by the Rangemaster. A listing of other firearms includes, but is not limited to: shotguns, teargas guns, flare guns, automatic weapons and rifles.

An officer may only use the specific firearm that he/she is certified for by an MPD Firearms Instructor as stated on the officer's Firearms Certification Card (MP-6001).

Officers must carry their Firearms Certification Card (MP-6001) at all times while on duty. Officers are required to present their Certification Card during firearms inspections and anytime they are using the MPD’s Range. Officers will not be allowed to qualify their firearm without presenting their Certification Card to Range personnel.

When an officer successfully completes the required firearms qualification course each qualification period, the Range instructor will enter the date, the make and model of the firearm(s) the officer has qualified with, and the instructor's signature. When the Certification Card is full, the Range will issue a new card to the officer provided that the old card is submitted to the Range.

5-402.02 OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING – LOANER HANDGUN (01/31/02)

In cases of officer-involved shootings, MPD officers will be given a loaner handgun from the MPD Rangemaster when appropriate. The affected officer will keep the loaner handgun until the investigating agency returns the officer’s service weapon to MPD. The officer’s service weapon shall be returned to the MPD Rangemaster, who will contact the officer and arrange for the return of the loaner handgun to the Range, and the return of the service weapon to the officer at the same time.

5-402.03 FIREARMS - CIVILIAN PERSONNEL (01/21/03)

(C-D)

Civilian personnel are prohibited from handling loaded firearms while at work unless they have attended and completed firearms familiarization training sponsored by the MPD Range or possess a valid permit to carry. Civilian personnel shall not possess personal firearms while at work.

5-403 FIREARMS CERTIFICATION CARD (11/27/02)

(A)

If a Firearms Certification Card is lost, the officer must request a new card through the MPD Rangemaster.

5-404 FIREARMS AUTHORIZED FOR OFF-DUTY USE (11/27/02)

(C-D)

The decision to carry a handgun while off-duty is left to the personal preference of each officer. The MPD prohibits any officer from carrying a handgun or ammunition off-duty while using or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Officers are permitted to carry off-duty only those handguns they have been certified to carry on-duty. The City of Minneapolis assumes no liability for any officer using a handgun off duty that has not been authorized and approved for on-duty use and for which the Rangemaster has not certified the officer.

5-404.01 SECURING FIREARMS OFF-DUTY (11/27/02)

(A-D)

Officers, when off-duty, are responsible for the safe storage of their firearms, whether they are in a motor vehicle, in a residence, or other facility. Officers assume the responsibility for taking reasonable precautions that their firearms do not fall into the hands of minors and/or unauthorized persons.

5-405 APPROVAL OF FIREARMS (11/27/02)

(A)

Range personnel must inspect all firearms before an officer may attempt to qualify with the firearm and be authorized to carry the firearm on duty or off duty. Range personnel may require officers to take additional training in addition to shooting a qualification course before allowing an officer to carry a specific firearm.

A firearm shall be resubmitted to the Rangemaster for inspection and approval when:

Directed by a supervisor;

The firearm has been altered; and/or

The firearm has malfunctioned or is not working properly.

5-406 MAINTENANCE OF FIREARMS (11/27/02)

(A)

Officers shall maintain their firearm(s) in a clean, serviceable condition.

5-407 AMMUNITION (11/27/02)

(A-B)

Officers shall only carry MPD-approved ammunition. Ammunition specifications are available from the Rangemaster. The cost of ammunition for an officer's second handgun will be borne by the officer. Department shotguns must be loaded with MPD-issued .00 Buck unless otherwise ordered by a supervisor. Ammunition issued for an officer's primary handgun will be replaced annually by the Rangemaster. An officer is responsible for replacing annually the ammunition in their secondary handgun.

Handguns shall be carried fully loaded by on-duty sworn personnel. All uniformed and plainclothes officers shall carry a minimum of three basic loadings for their primary handgun, regardless of the type of handgun. The required minimum number of loadings includes the one in the handgun.

5-408 SHOTGUNS (11/27/02) (10/24/03)

(A)

The Remington, Model 870 shotgun, which is the MPD’s authorized shotgun, shall be squad ready when carried in vehicles. Squad ready means:

• The shotgun shall have four rounds in the magazine (six rounds for extended magazine guns) with the hammer dropped (trigger pulled). (10/5/09)

• There shall be no round in the chamber and the safety shall be in the “fire position.”

• The shotgun shall have a single strip of masking tape around the barrel and fore-grip with the preparing officer's initials, date and time written on the tape.

Uniformed officers assigned to a patrol district on a precinct shift assigned to a marked police car shall set-up a shotgun (squad ready) for deployment in the squad car for the duration of their shift. Carrying a shotgun is optional for uniformed sergeants and above. (12/18/06)

The officer setting up the shotgun is responsible for inspecting the shotgun at the start of their shift.

Upon completion of their shift, officer(s) shall remove the shotgun from the squad car for storage in the precinct or unit armory. (12/18/06)

When stored, the Remington, Model 870 shotgun shall have the slide open with no rounds in the weapon.

All department sworn personnel shall qualify and attend annual training, and shall retain annual certification. (12/18/06)

5-409 DEPLOYMENT OF PATROL RIFLE (PR) (3/31/06)

(A-D)

The Patrol Rifle (PR) is a tactical weapon that is being deployed to provide officers with immediate access to a resource that will provide enhanced safety and a strategic response to specific threats. The PR shall only be deployed by a PR-certified officer. Officers shall deploy the PR consistent with MPD policy and training that has been approved by the Training Unit.

Officers shall request supervisor permission to deploy patrol rifles (PRs) when time permits. However, officers may deploy PRs immediate in deadly force situation that meet the deployment policy criteria. When this occurs, the officer deploying the PR shall report it to a supervisor as soon as practical.

All PR deployments shall be fully documented on a PR deployment card unless the incident is recorded by other means due to an investigation (i.e., an officer-involved shooting) or CAPRS report.

Once the threat is resolved, or the officer is relieved by the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), the PR shall be secured unless directed otherwise by the ERU.

The PR is authorized for deployment in the following situations:

Suspects are believed to be wearing protective body armor;

Situations that an officer reasonably believes meets active shooter criteria;

When the unique features of the PR provide a tactical advantage;

As approved or directed by a supervisor.

The PR shall be squad ready, in the carrying case, and secured in the trunk when carried in vehicles. Squad ready shall be defined as:

Bolt action forward

Empty chamber with the safety on

One loaded 18-round magazine inserted into the magazine well

The PR can be removed from the trunk of the vehicle and brought into the cabin of the squad prior to arrival on scene of an incident.

Patrol Rifle Operator Responsibility

Only officers trained and certified are authorized to handle the PR or pre-deploy the PR in the field. Personnel who are equipped with the PR shall:

Secure the PR and PR ammunition in the trunk of their police vehicle until its deployment is authorized.

Respond to requests for a PR as assigned.

Ensure that each situation meets the deployment criteria, and that supervisory approval is obtained prior to deploying the PR at an incident unless exigent circumstances exist that preclude prior supervisory approval.

Clear the PR at the end of each shift and secure the rifle in the officer’s locker in the carrying case.

Complete an electronic PR deployment report, and any other reports, per department policy. The PR deployment report will be sent to their sergeants, commander, and the Rangemaster.

Supervisor’s Responsibility

A supervisor shall:

Respond to the scene of all PR deployments.

Determine if deployment of the PR was appropriate.

Take charge of the tactical incident and determine if the incident is within the capability of the unit(s) at the scene or if ERU should be requested.

Ensure that all PR’s are re-secured once the threat is resolved.

Make the necessary notifications if the PR is discharged.

Secure a PR in the event an authorized officer can not. If necessary, the supervisor should contact other certified PR officer (or MPD Range) to respond, unload, and secure the weapon. However, the lead scene investigator shall make this determination if the PR is part of an ongoing investigation.

5-410 FIREARMS TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (11/27/02)

(A-D)

The Rangemaster is responsible for planning, implementing and conducting firearms training for all MPD sworn personnel. The Rangemaster is also responsible for operational activities of all sworn personnel and for ensuring that all personnel comply with the established policies, procedures and orders of the department. The Rangemaster reviews all officer-involved shootings for future or immediate training needs.

Range officers instruct sworn personnel in the proper use of authorized individual and MPD-owned firearms. They also are responsible for inspecting and determining the functional operation of firearms.

All sworn personnel are required, as a term and condition of employment, to obtain a "passing" score on the MPD-approved course of fire for each of the Range training periods established by the Training Unit . They must do so with their primary handgun and secondary handgun (if they intend to carry one).

Officers may be required to participate in additional firearms training at the discretion of the Training Unit as approved by the Administration.

Sworn personnel are also required to satisfactorily complete each course of fire with MPD-issued shotguns as conducted by Range personnel.

Any officer who fails to attend the MPD-approved course of fire for any given range training period because of a medically documented illness, temporary injury, IOD-related matter or non-medical excused absence from duty (i.e., LOA), will be required to do so upon their return to full duty. Officers returning to full duty shall be reassigned to a non-enforcement position by their Commander and will not be authorized to carry a firearm, on or off duty, until successfully completing the required course of fire.

Recruit officers must attain the minimum score required to "pass" the firearms qualification course conducted by MPD Range personnel. Failure to qualify is cause for termination of employment.

5-410.01 FAILURE TO QUALIFY (11/27/02)

(A-D)

"To Qualify" means obtaining the minimum passing score on any given MPD-approved course of fire with handguns, shotguns and other specialty firearms if required.

Officers who do not obtain a "passing" score on a required course of fire shall be given a "Notice of Failure to Qualify." This form will direct the officer to return on a given date and time for remedial training and/or refiring of the course. A copy of the "Notice of Failure to Qualify" (MP-6454) will be sent to the officer's Commander and another placed in the officer's Range file.

The Commander will immediately reassign the officer to a non-enforcement position until such time as he or she returns to the range and "passes" the course of fire. The officer is also prohibited from carrying or using MPD-authorized firearms, on or off duty, until satisfactory completion of the course.

Failure to qualify after remedial training may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

5-410.02 FAILURE TO ATTEND FIREARMS TRAINING (11/27/02)

(A-B)

Commanders will be allocated sufficient range time to schedule all their officers for each required range training period. Make-up sessions may be scheduled if necessary.

Upon the completion of each firearms qualification period, officers who did not attend will be issued a "Notice of Failure to Attend Firearms Qualification Course" (MP-6453). A copy will be sent to the officer's Commander and a copy placed in the officer's Range file. The officer shall report to the Range on the specified date and time for remedial training and/or qualification.

Commanders will immediately reassign the officer to a non-enforcement position until such time as he or she returns to the Range and satisfactorily completes the course of fire. The officer is also prohibited from carrying or using MPD-authorized firearms, on or off duty, until satisfactory completion of the course.

A list of all officers who failed to report for firearms training during each qualification period will be forwarded to their respective Bureau Head. Failure to attend required firearms training, unless properly excused, will be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

5-411 USE OF DEPARTMENT RANGE FACILITY (11/27/02)

(A)

The MPD Range facility may only be used by sworn law enforcement personnel or persons authorized by the Rangemaster. Sworn law enforcement personnel from agencies other than the MPD may be permitted to use the Range facility with the prior approval of the Chief of Police. In these instances, at least one Range staff officer must be present to monitor the use of the facility.

Only MPD-authorized ammunition and an officer's primary and secondary firearm may be used at an MPD Range facility.

5-411.01 RANGE RULES - INDOOR AND OUTDOOR (11/27/02)

(A-B)

The Rangemaster is the Commander of the MPD’s Range facilities. The following rules shall be adhered to by all personnel using the indoor or outdoor range facilities:

All weapons at the range are always loaded.

Weapons shall be cased or holstered unless directed to do otherwise by the Rangemaster.

Trigger fingers will remain off the trigger until the Rangemaster gives the command to shoot.

Handling of weapons will be on command or by permission of range personnel only.

No handling of weapons will be permitted while persons are down range.

Possession and/or consumption of liquor or drugs is forbidden either immediately prior to or while at the range.

The Rangemaster may order anyone using the MPD’s Range to leave a Range facility for the violation of any of his/her commands or rules.

The Rangemaster may temporarily confiscate the weapon of any employee of the MPD pending a decision on the issue by the Chief of Police.

5-412 DEPOSITING WEAPONS AT JAIL OR PROCESSING FACILITY (11/27/02)

(A-B)

Officers entering any area of a jail or processing facility shall follow all rules of the controlling agency as to the deposit of weapons immediately upon entering the facility.

5-413 REPORTING FIREARMS DISCHARGES TO THE STATE (10/16/02)

Minn. Stat. §626.553 requires the Chief of Police to report to the State Commissioner of Public Safety whenever a peace officer discharges a firearm in the course of duty, other than for training purposes or when killing an animal that is sick, injured or dangerous. Written notification of the incident must be filed within 30 days of the incident. The notification shall include information concerning the reason for and circumstances surrounding discharge of the firearm. The Homicide Unit supervisor shall notify the Internal Affairs Unit supervisor of the firearms discharge. The Internal Affairs Unit supervisor shall be responsible for filing the required form(s) with the State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

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