Memo from Craven to Wallace Re: Firearms Seminar and Firearms Training Recommendations

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C I T Y  OF  M E M P H I S
I N T E R - O F F I C E
M E M O R A N D U M

TO:

FROM:

M/i. J. F. WotCace
Vzputij ZhJuLi
Acbiniit/tattve Se'iv-ccw Vl̂ JUlon
Capi, W, J. OiCLvzn 
TficUnJbiQ Acjddzcu/

DATE: 4  ̂Jg-J4

SUBJECT: V ln zoJm > TLETA^ 1 PxLy 7 4 ,
Rec(?2c;cndaitoiX6 A /^ a fid o ig  S ta te . 
FtM ca/im6 T /u touK i^

Mtached i i  a capi) o( a nepoiit iMtdMid. ba Copt. John Cotetta Um- jh .

Anminj^n. Sgt, HMt vm appotnt&d to Ae. CorrAtte?. on liaitc 
hooting. PaittcUpant^ Anctadzd lo ca l, i t̂ate. and ^tdenal oi^lceju,.

U  may bz noted t f ^  oun pfie^cnt ba&lc tnabting itasidandi exceed zhe.
^  ^ c  cor̂ rncttcc. O u n ln ^ v lc T ^ Z S ^

con^.^

Vou. w ill bz advlizd o£ ^utuAa ineting ok pJtopo^aU by tkz State CotmUtzz.

Vlit/Ubution:

Ckiẑ  Wallacz 
KCapt. ColUta 

Ofidjiancz Vile. 
TLETA File 
TLEPA Vile.

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On May 1st and 2nd 1974, a firearms seminar was held at 

the Tennessee haw Enforcement Training Academy. This seminar 

was attended by firearms instructors from across the State of

Tennessee. Federal, state, municipal and county instructors 
were represented.

The members were divided into topic groups. Each topic

had a permanent chairman.^ The other members of the groups

rotated among the various topics until all had discussed

each topic. The chairmen stayed with their single topic

throughout the entire session. After two days of intensive

discussions the group made some recommendations which are set 
out below.

The group suggested 6>i hours of classroom work in addition
to the field work on the range. This classroom work should 
include:^

1 . firearms safety 5

2 . liability with firearms 6

3. nomemclature

4. weapon accessories and 
shooting tips

'"hooting positions

itrinciples of revolver 
shooting

range procedures 
introduction to 
shoulder weapons

und groSp c^a?™“ ?" Participants, topics.

See attachment two for suggested classroom rurriculira.



It was suggested that 40 hours be spent on the range ,
,r>i jT f j i ' i y f i t : , ( C.- '

^  M i'. f* *with a minimum of 800 rounds of ammunition^ In view of the 

fact that ammunition is packed in 50 round boxes it was suggested 

that a 50 round course be taught. This to be used on a police 

practical course and a modified police practical course.^

These courses should be fired on a sillouette target with a minitnum 

qualifying average on both courses of 70 per cent with adherence 

to time. Instruction should be in both the single and double hand 

method with a 1 to 5 coach pupil ratio.

It was observed that failures should be given more 

instruction, possibly on their own time, and if tiiey still 

fail to qualify a notation should be sent with their record 

to the chief administrative officer of their agency.

In the area of in-service training, it was suggested 

tliat a scaled down version of basic training be used. The 

training should be 3 eight hour ^s^^with some classroom work 

included and 250 rounds of ammunition per man per expended.

Also it was brought out that the agencies should attempt 

to qualify every man at every one of these sessions.

Recognizing the need to somewhat standardize firearms and 

firearms training in the state of Tennessee, the following 

observations were made:

See attachment three for proposed firearms training 
course for Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy.



1. The .38 or .557 caliber S and 
sufficient to meet the requirements of 
is primarily self-defense.

W or Colt should be 
a police officer which

2. For uniform personnel the barrel length should be
4" with fixed or adjustable sights. No accessories should be 
placed on the weapon except grip adaptor or oversize custom 
grips which must be modified to allow easy ejection. The grips 
should be made of wood with no thumbrest.

3. Handguns for plainclothesmen and off duty should consist 
of the above except could consist of five or six shot and have
a barrel length of less than 4” . For extraordinary duty, special 
assignments, or undercover work the chief could vary at his discretion.

4. The agencies should purchase and issue duty weapons; 
oif duty weapons, that are carried under the auspicies ot an 
agency should be qualified with.

L

5̂ ''̂ ''-Ammunlf.ign should meet SAAMl specifications and be factory 
loaded?-n‘̂  ‘ro'^Ysf'gr ain, high-speed load with soft or hali_p̂ v̂  point.« 
lead or semi - j acketed projectile, viitdi muzz(|£^ velocity/not‘to^*^*/' 
exceed 1000 FPS out of a 4” barrel wd-th- 1-oad pro-j-octi'ke.s.._̂ ^̂ Ay,̂ '̂  ̂
service ammunition should be purchased by the Agency and ' sl^e^-d^kvv.V^ y>ioc 
be-.expo.nded. at-every-training session or every six months whichever 
CjOhi© s-rfirrfj't-.

6 . Ail 
agency after 
manufacture 
ô ‘̂'Duikshot,

shoulder weapons should be owned and issued by the 
proper training. Shotguns should be of American 

12 ga., police riot type; duty ammunition consisting 
slugs or tear gas projectile.

See attachment four for shotgun qualifications course 
proposed by participants-



May 1, 1974

ATTACHMENT #1

8:30 a . m. Assembly - Introduction - Mr. Grigsby, TLETA
8:45 a . m. Scope of the problem - Mr. Soltys, TLETA
9:20 a . m. Break
9:30 a . m. Firearms training in the U.S.

1 0 : 2 0 a . m.
William Ahrens - FBI, Quantico 
Break

10:30 a . m. William Ahrens (continued)
1 1: 00 a • 111. Group assignments
11:30 a .m. • Lunch

1 : 0 0 p • in • Group Participation

May 2 

9:00

, 1974 

a . m. Group Presentations
1 0 : 2 0 a . m. Break

10:30 3. • m • Continued
11: 30 a . m . Lunch

1 : 0 0 p • in • Range

2 : 0 0 p . m. Continued
3:00 p .m. Preparation of recommendations for

Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy 

Tennessee Law Enforcement Planning Agency



ATTACHMENT #1 continued

BASIC SHOOTING

John Manning - Chairman, Metro PD Academy Nashville

Henry Newell - Clarksville PD

Bill Hart - Memphis PD

Jackie R. Moore - Jackson PD

William Cole - F.B.I. Chattanooga

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Lewis P. Auer - Chairman, Johnson City PD

Bill Waggoner - T.L.E.T.A. Donelson

Albert Wood - Johnson City PD

Lee Roy Tate - Chattanooga PD

Ben Hale - F.B.I. Memphis

IN-SERVICE TRAINING  ̂ CLASSROOM CURRICULA

Lee Hick, - Chairman, PD Academy Chattanooga

James Sandidge - T.H.P. Chattanooga

A 1 Bennevworth - T.L.E.T.A. Donelson

Norman Pipkin - Jackson PD

Barry Seay - Montgomery Co. SD

GUNS AND AMMUNITION

John Coletta - Chairman, PD Academy Memphis 

Tom Burnley - T.L.E.T.A. Donelson 

Don Collins - T.H.P. Knoxville 

William.Ahrens - F.B.I. Quantico, Va.

William Gerst - U.T. Knoxville 

Troy Hamner - A.T.^F. Nashville



ATTACHMENT #2

I. Basic Training Classroom Curriculum

A. Police Officers Liability with Firearms. (2 hrs.)

1. Lecture
2 . Film "Shoot or Don't Shoot"

B. Safety with Firearms (1 hr.)' Taught as a block sub­
ject and intergrated into all other subjects.

1. Safety on the Job
2. Safety at Home

C. Firearms Nomenclature hr.)

1. General knowledge (mechanical)
2. Fuctioning
3. Maintenance care and cleaning

D. Weapon Accessories and Shooting Tips (Jj)

4.

E.

F,

1. Target grips
2 . trigger shoes
3. adjustable sights

painted sights 
holster types 

6 . ammunition
5.

Shooting Positions (1 hr.)

Principles of Revolver Shooting (h)

1. Sight alignment and sight picture
2. Grip and Trigger control
3. Stance and Positions
4. Single and Double Action
5. Loading and unloading

G. Range Procedures { h )

1. Target Types
2. Conduct on the Range
3. Scoring
4. Relays and Miscellaneous Rules

H. Introduction to Shoulder Weapons (Jj)



ATTACHMENT #3

PPG - 50 Yard 
(50 rounds -)

Stage Distance Position Number o£ Rounds Time
1 . 7 yds. line Crouch^/^'^ 10 rds. (DA) 25 sec.
2 50 yd. line Prone 5 rds. (SA) 2 min. 45

Kneeling Barricade 5 rds. (SA)
R. H. Barricade 5 rds. (SA)
L. H. Barricade 5 rds. (SA)

3 25 yd. line Kneeling 5 rds. (DA) 2 min.
R. H. Barricade 5 rds. (DA)
L. H. Barricade 5 rds. (DA)
Standing-no support 5 rds. (DA)

- MODIFIED PPG
Stage Distance Position Number of Rounds Time

1 7 yd. line Crouch/ 5 rds. (DA) 10 sec.7 yd. line Crouch//*'/^ 10 rds. (DA) 25 sec.
2 15 yd. 1 ine Point shoulder 5 rds. (DA) 10 sec.
3 25 yd. line Prone 6 rds. (DA) 2 min. 45

1 b yd. line Kneeling 6 rds. (DA)25 yd. 1 ine R. H. Barricade 6 rds. (DA)
2 S yd. line L. II. Barricade 6 ’rds. (DA)

4 25 yd. line Standing no support 6 rds. (DA) 12 sec.



SHOTGUN TRAINING (60% qualification)

A. 25 rds. skeet or trap for familiarization
B. Qualification

ATTACHMENT #4

Yrd. line 

50 yds. 

25 yds. 

15 yds.

Position

Shoulder

Shoulder
Hip

Total;

rds. 

2 

6 
4

12

type 

Slug 

OO Buck 

00 Buck

Points

5 points each

1 point Bk. hole

1 point eac. Bk.
hole

100 points

SITUATIONAL SHOOTING

(No qualifying score required) 
(No time limit)

Single Action Shooting 

Automobile Course 

Exertion Course 

Duelling Course