Police Participate in Yearly Firearms Qualification and Training

Dalton police officers recently participated in a yearly qualification and training session with their issued sidearm, the Sig Sauer P229 semi-auto pistol.  Each year, all sworn officers with the department attend and complete 8 hours of firearms training, including one hour of use of force.

As of January 2006, the State of Georgia P.O.S.T. council now requires all sworn officers to qualify yearly on a state approved course of fire and also complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction in the use of force.  Prior to this change, there was no state requirement to qualify once the officer completed basic mandate training.

The Dalton Police Department implemented the state's requirements in January 2005 in anticipation to this recent change.  The police department has been doing yearly firearms qualifications since 1984.

Dalton P.D. Officers Shooting the 25 yard stage of the qualification course

Sergeant Steve Hodge (left) and Lieutenant Jason Parker using cover during firearms training.  Cover is emphasized during firearms training since it will help protect the officer during a deadly force encounter