Firearms Training and Qualification

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Definitions

Ammunition: A projectile intended for use with a Firearm. 

Firearm: A barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person, and includes any frame or receiver of such a barrelled weapon, and anything that can be adapted for use as a Firearm (as per section 2 of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46). A conducted energy weapon is not considered a Firearm for the purposes of BCPPS 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition and BCPPS 1.1.2 Firearms Training and Qualification.

Officer: A constable appointed under the Police Act or an enforcement officer appointed under section 14.15 of the Police Act.

Pistol: A handgun; a Firearm designed to be held in one hand.

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Standards

Initial training and qualification

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(1) Ensure that an Officer successfully completes a training course, approved by the Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner, for each type of Firearm issued to that Officer, and is qualified, before the Officer is authorized to carry and use a Firearm or Ammunition under Standard (1), (2), or (3) of BCPPS 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition.

Qualification tests

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(2) Ensure that any Officer authorized to carry and use a Pistol is qualified on the use of the Pistol each year, in accordance with the protocols described in the BC Pistol Qualification attached to this Standard as Appendix “A”.

(3) Ensure that any Officer authorized to carry and use a Firearm or Ammunition other than a Pistol is qualified on the use of the Firearm each year, in accordance with qualifications approved by the Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner.

Additional requirements

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(4) Ensure that any Officer authorized to carry and use a Firearm is required, every three years at minimum, to articulate to the satisfaction of a use-of-force instructor as to when lethal force is justified.

(5) Ensure that any Officer authorized to carry and use a Firearm is in compliance with BCPPS 3.2.2 Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Training.

Practice training

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(6) Ensure that any Officer authorized to carry and use a Firearm is required, every three years at a minimum, to:

(a) Complete practice training, as determined by the police service, regarding Firearms tactics and use-of-force decision making; and
(b) Complete practice training, as determined by the police service, regarding shooting at distances of 25 metres and greater.

Record keeping

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(7) Ensure that written records are maintained of the Firearms qualification test completed by each Officer in the police service including:

(a) The date;
(b) The identity of the Officer;
(c) The testing conducted and the testing results; and
(d) The name of the qualifying instructor.

(8) Ensure that written records are maintained of the Firearms training completed by each Officer in the police service including:

(a) The date;
(b) The identity of the Officer;
(c) The type of training conducted, including the purpose and learning objectives for the session; and
(d) The name of the instructor.

Policies and procedures

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must ensure that:

(9) Policies and procedures are consistent with these BC Provincial Policing Standards.

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Appendix

• Appendix “A” for BCPPS 1.1.2 – Firearms Training and Qualification