LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
FIRE INVESTIGATIONS / FIREARMS PROCEDURESRevised Date: / 08/27/04
Supersedes: / 11/14/02 / SOP / 600.40 / Page 9 of 9
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose: To state policy governing the carrying and handling of authorized firearms and to establish procedures for participating in and documenting required qualification and training.
B. SCOPE: These procedures apply to all members of the Bureau of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad who are authorized to carry firearms.
C. AUTHOR: The Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention (Fire Marshal), through the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad and the Deputy Chief of Administration shall be responsible for the content, revision, and annual review of this section.
D. DEFINITIONS:
1. Department-Approved Firearm: A firearm of a common handgun caliber (with the below-listed exceptions) or a semi automatic AR–15 rifle in .223 caliber (5.56mm), in a clean and serviceable condition, having been inspected for serviceability by an approved Rangemaster, loaded with department-approved ammunition, and having no modifications other than the installation of aftermarket grips, lighting devices and/or sights. Exceptions: .22, .25, and .380 caliber firearms are not approved as alternate duty firearms.
2. Department-Approved Ammunition: Commercially manufactured, American made, factory-new, hollow point, expanding ammunition of the appropriate caliber for the firearm. Full metal jacket or “hardball,” Magnum-load, or hand-loaded ammunition shall not be used in any department-approved firearm.
II. RESPONSIBILITY
A. All personnel who are authorized to carry firearms are responsible for being familiar with and complying with this policy and procedure.
B. The Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy and procedure and maintaining the required documentation thereof.
III. POLICY
A. It is the policy of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue that qualified personnel of the Bureau of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad are authorized to carry firearms pursuant to their duties as peace officers and that these firearms are handled in a safe and professional manner.
B. It is the policy of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue that personnel who are authorized to carry firearms participate in a regular training and qualification program as well as such additional training as assigned by the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad.
IV. PROCEDURES
A. The Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad, Fire Investigator I’s, Fire Investigator II’s, and Acting Fire Investigator I’s (while in acting status) who have completed the basic P.O.S.T. Academy and hold an active Peace Officer certification are authorized to carry firearms.
B. The duty/alternate duty firearm will be carried on the investigator's person while responding to or engaged investigative activities, during the execution of arrest or search warrants, during stakeout or surveillance activities, and while transporting prisoners. Carrying the firearm while engaged in other activities will be at the investigator's discretion; however, when not being carried, the firearm should be reasonably accessible and available for use.
C. Members shall refrain from drawing a firearm at any place, unless it is necessary. No unnecessary handling will be tolerated.
D. Members are to exercise reasonable care and caution in the safe handling of a firearm. A firearm can be considered “accidentally discharged” for these reasons only: mechanical failure and/or faulty ammunition. Unintentional discharges resulting from reasons other than these shall be considered negligent.
E. Members shall be aware of for (4) general safety rules at all times:
1. All firearms will be considered loaded at all times.
2. Never point a firearm at anything you do not wish to destroy.
3. Never put the trigger finger on the trigger until on target and ready to fire.
4. Always be able to identify and isolate target and its surroundings.
F. All members who are authorized to carry firearms shall qualify with the authorized firearm(s) once during each quarter of the calendar year as measured from January to December. The primary facility for firearms training and qualification shall be the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Range. A commercial range located at American Gun Club may be used for qualification under exigent circumstances, with prior approval from the Supervisor of Fire Investigations-Bomb Squad.
G. The Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Firearms Qualification Report shall be completed, signed by the Rangemaster, and submitted to the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad along with a copy of the training report. The Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad shall maintain the Firearms Qualification Reports in a permanent file and the training reports for a period of one year.
H. Firearm qualification and training is mandatory for all firearms carried on and off-duty. Failure to participate shall be considered a disciplinary issue and will be addressed through the positive discipline system.
I. Failure to shoot a qualifying score shall be considered a training and performance issue and will be addressed through repeated attempts to qualify or by assistance or remedial training by the Rangemaster. Failure to shoot a qualifying score during a qualifying quarter shall be considered sub-standard performance and will be grounds for reassignment to a non-peace officer position.
J. While on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Range, members shall conduct themselves in accordance with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department procedural order 5/208.18 (See APPENDIX I).
K. A personally owned, department-approved firearm may be carried on duty as an alternate duty firearm or as a backup to the duty firearm at the discretion of the authorized member, subject to the approval of the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad. The alternate duty firearm is intended to be carried on duty as an alternative to the department-issued duty firearm. The backup firearm is intended as a secondary weapon to be used in a deadly-force encounter if the duty/alternate duty firearm is taken from the member or if the duty firearm is empty, malfunctions, or is otherwise rendered unusable. The member will furnish his/her own alternate duty firearm or backup firearm, holster, and department-approved ammunition (if other than 9mm or .40 S&W) for duty use, practice, training, and qualification. Members who desire to carry an alternate duty firearm or backup firearm will obtain a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Application for Special Weapon (LVMPD 123) from the LVMPD Rangemaster, have the weapon inspected by the Rangemaster, and shoot the LVMPD firearm qualification course (“A” course for alternate duty firearm, and “B” course for backup firearm) with a passing score. The application for special weapon will then be submitted to the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad along with the LVF&R Firearms Qualification Report, Training Report, and a copy of the blue Gun Registration card for said firearm. Subsequent qualifications (“A” course for alternate duty firearm, and “B” course for backup firearm) will be performed in each quarter of the year, and documented on a LVF&R Firearms Qualification Report and a Training Report. Failure to qualify with the firearm will result in the suspension of the authorization to carry said firearm.
L. The carrying of a department-approved concealed firearm while off-duty is a privilege that is extended to authorized members by the Department, in conformance with Nevada Revised Statutes, subject to the conditions noted herein, and may be revoked by the Department for failure to comply with this policy. The carrying of a concealed firearm while off-duty is solely for the protection of the member or others from an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm and must be approved by the Supervisor of Fire Investigations-Bomb Squad.
1. Members who are off-duty have no duty to be armed or to intervene in crimes in progress, and shall not intervene in crimes in progress or initiate any law enforcement action unless imminent jeopardy to human life exists. When encountering a crime in progress, not posing an imminent threat to human life, the member may attempt, from a position of advantage, to observe as much as possible (suspect or vehicle descriptions, weapons, directions of fleeing suspects, etc.) and relay the information to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction as quickly as possible. Members will not pursue fleeing suspects when off-duty.
2. In the event that a member is involved in a deadly force incident, whether on or off duty, while armed and wearing plain clothes, the member must be aware that he/she may not be recognizable as a peace officer, to other responding officers. Until those officers de-escalate and bring the incident under their control, the situation is extremely hazardous to both the member and the responding officers. Therefore, the member must make every effort, visually and verbally, to make responding officers aware of his/her identity while immediately obeying all commands given by those officers. If the member is commanded to drop his/her weapon, it must be done without hesitation.
3. Members who are consuming alcoholic beverages during off-duty hours shall not have a concealed firearm on their person. Any member found consuming an alcoholic beverage and carrying a firearm shall be subject to disciplinary action and immediate suspension of authorization to carry an off-duty firearm.
4. Acting Fire Investigator I’s not authorized to carry off-duty firearms.
5. Procedures for the initial approval and qualification, subsequent qualifications, and documentation thereof, for off-duty firearms will be the same as those for backup firearms as described in section J (“B” course). Failure to qualify with the off-duty firearm will result in the suspension of the authorization to carry said firearm.
6. Authorized members will supply their own department-approved ammunition for their off-duty firearm if other than 9mm or 040 S&W.
M. Qualified personnel may carry a personally owned, department-approved AR-15 rifle (Optional Rifle) during certain unusual events when specifically authorized by the Supervisor of Fire Investigations-Bomb Squad , under the following conditions:
1. Personnel must complete the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Patrol Rifle Certification training class and be currently qualified with the optional rifle prior to being authorized to carry the rifle during an unusual event. To remain qualified, personnel must shoot the LVMPD Rifle Qualification Course two times per year, documented on an LVFD Firearms Qualification Report and Training Report.
2. Personnel must carry the Optional Rifle Authorization Card issued by LVMPD on their person at all times while carrying the rifle during an unusual event.
3. The only department-approved duty ammunition for the optional rifle is that issued by LVMPD.
4. Personnel will provide their own department-approved rifle, case, magazines, magazine pouches, training ammunition and cleaning supplies.
5. Personnel who have not completed Phase I of the Field Training Program and the Qualifying Period will not be authorized to carry the optional rifle.
6. The optional rifle will be carried in a case in the response vehicle unless deployed.
7. The optional rifle will be deployed only in accordance with SOP 600.60, Use of Force, and then only when the potential exists for a life-threatening situation involving suspects(s) armed with a rifle and/or other deadly weapon, and/or barricaded or concealed in a position against which the department-approved sidearm would reasonably be considered ineffective.
8. Carrying the optional rifle is strictly forbidden unless specifically authorized by the Supervisor of Fire Investigations-Bomb Squad. Personnel must obtain specific authorization prior to bringing the rifle on duty for any purpose, including training, practice or qualification.
APPENDIX I
LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
5/208.18 LVMPD FIRE ARMS FACILITY
WEAPON HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS
Weapons brought on to the range will be handled as follows:
1. All weapons brought to the firearms facility will be maintained in a safe condition. If an officer arrives at the Range with a loaded weapon, he will, before proceeding on to the facility, unload the weapon in the red unloading barrels located at each end of the Range building. Weapons will be kept down range in a safe condition at all times. The weapon, loaded or unloaded, must not be pointed at anyone nor in any direction where unintentional discharge would cause injury or damage. Treat every weapon as though it was loaded.
2. Weapons will be brought on the Range in a safe condition and will be loaded and unloaded only on the command of the Rangemaster.
3. Anytime the weapon is removed from the holster, the action should be open and the weapon made safe as follows:
a) Revolvers - cylinders out.
b) Semi-Automatics - slide locked back.
c) The weapon is to be carried in the above manner when moving from one shooting position to the next, except when shooting a course of fire with automatics, then the weapon will be placed on safe, and carried with the barrel pointing up.
4. Due to fire and safety regulations, there is absolutely no smoking allowed on the LVMPD Firearms Facility.
RANGE USE PROCEDURES:
1. Personal protection equipment, eye and hearing protection, are required for everyone on the Range during any firing. Earplugs alone are not authorized. They may be used in conjunction with earmuffs.
2. No loaded firearms are allowed in the Range building, unless holstered or in a “SAFE” condition.
3. No firearms will be handled off the firing line unless specifically instructed and supervised.
4. All firearms will be unloaded and holstered, if available, before departing the firing line or made safe and carried maintaining muzzle awareness and control.
5. A firearm will only be considered “SAFE” when secured in the holster or when the ammunition and/or magazine is removed, the slide is locked open or the cylinder is open or the action is open and the safety is engaged if so equipped.
6. No ammunition will be allowed in the cleaning area.
7. No one will be allowed downrange when firing.
8. No unqualified Department personnel or visitor will be allowed to fire without direct supervision by a trained and qualified firearm carrier or an approved instructor.
9. Each individual is responsible for picking up his or her expended brass and trash.
10. Rifles will be restricted to the rifle range and range one (1) unless approval is obtained from the Rangemaster or designee.
11. Steel targets are not to be used without the approval of the Range staff. Under no circumstances will any member engage a Stell Target at less than 15 yards.