Correspondence from Coletta to Wilkinson Re: Tactical Use of Firearms by Officers of the MPD
Correspondence
May 24, 1972
3 pages
Cite this item
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Case Files, Garner Working Files. Correspondence from Coletta to Wilkinson Re: Tactical Use of Firearms by Officers of the MPD, 1972. 81d16dbb-33a8-f011-bbd3-000d3a53d084. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/b523afb7-cb0b-45aa-a00e-c2bc1ad1b7ce/correspondence-from-coletta-to-wilkinson-re-tactical-use-of-firearms-by-officers-of-the-mpd. Accessed June 18, 2026.
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DUPAUlC^miAl e Qi l l m u Q AVSO!̂^ ASD 4
TO; CHIEF V,'. W. V.'ILKIKSON
CHIEF OE STAFF OFLIOMIC.NS
FKOM: LT. J. A. COLETTA
RANGE OFFICER i
SUBJECT: TACTICAL USE OF FIREARMS BY
OFFICERS OF THE MVD.
DATE;- MAY 24, 1972
THE ATTACHED REPORT REFLECTS THE INCIDENCE OF FIREAPAIS USE BY MEMBERS
OF THIS DEPARTMENT SINCE JANUARY, 1972, V.HICH HAVE BEEN KEPORTED TO
THt F;1RÎ •G P.\NGE. IN EVERY CASE THE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO UNIFORM HERE
INVOLVED.
1. Adverse lifchtin;z conditions.
2. Concentration at r-angcs of 25 to 35 yards.
4. • Greater concer.trat ion on judgaent factors,
AS INDICATED, THIS REPORT REFLECTS THESE FACTORS LIIICII CALL FOR STRESS
ON THE ABOVE FOUR POINTS.
1 .
2 .
3.
4.
Only a 12. S% x'atio of success.
69/0 of incidents occuring at night under
poor light.^
100^ use of trie standing fio support
posi ti on.
Indescriininate shooting just for the sake
of it with no possible chance of success.
IT IS NOT THE INTENT OF THE V.'RITER TO UNDUELY CRITICIZE PERFO.LMANC E IN
THE FIELD, BUT MERELY TO REPORT ACCURATELY THL FACTS VJIICH ARE SUB
STANTIATED BY RESEARCH.
rv O tv i t L V / X yj X l i x w U X Li k«i_« >\0 i\ i j i k j i\ a u i. \j x * t t x i \ x i\v v «> x i •
Use of weapon w'hen confronted by suspect---- 3
To prevent the escape or flight of a felon -- 11
Otl.cr---------------------------------------- 2
TYPE OF_IKCIDEXT
Burglary Assault Document Criminal Assault Stolen Auto Robbery Oiher
5 3 1 1 2 2 2
REVOLVER 13 BOTH SHOTGUN
LIGHT CONDITION’S
Daylight 5
Night------- 11
Clear -
Cloudy
13
3
' ’■S*..
xndoora --- — i
Outdoors---- 15
DISTANCE hliEN SHOT WAS FIRED .
P* to i5' 5̂' to 7V 75' to l.SO* Over 1̂ ;0'
3 4 12 S
POSITION
Hip SNS
15
NUMBER SHOTS FIRED: 23
ONE INCIDENT UNKNOWN:
S.A.
11
D.A.
11
AIMED FIRE
Yes No
Good Artificial-3
Poor---------- 8
Good light----- 5
_______ _________
TRAINING ADEQUATE
Yes, --- -̂--- 1
• N o -- -̂------- 5
No remarks--- 10
K ALL
1
RELOAD SHOULDER
Other---- 1
SUSPECT BOUNDED SUSPECT SUICIDE OFFICER BOUNDED
I I >,• i; i v.> J
FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND TRAINING
I. PRIMARY SERVICE SIDEARM
A. Issued by Dept Yes 46 No 16
B. Make S&W - 60 Colt - 15 Ruqer - 1
C. Type Revolver - 58 Semi-Auto ■- 5
D. Length of Barrel 2 in. - 3 4 in. - 60 6 in. - 9
E. Caliber 38 Spl. - 53 357 - 11 9MM - 4 4 4 Mag. - 1
II. PLAINCLOTHES SIDEARM
A. . Issued by Dept.B. Make SSW - 53C . Typo Revolver
D, Length of Barrel _E. Caliber 38 Spl. 357 12
Yes 35 NoColt - 27 Other - 4’- 5 1 Soml-Auto " 10*
3' in. ~ 4 6 4 in. - 259MM - 7
. SHOTGUN
A. Issued by Dept. Yes
B. Make Reraington - 42
High Standard - 6
C. Type Pump - 59
D. Length of Barrel 18 in. -
E. Gauge 12 Ge.. - 6T
F. Issued to each man Yes
G. Issued to each.car Yes
H. Available for issue if circums
N o __9_
Wii^chester - 1353
Ithaca - 12 ________________
Savage " 2
Semi-Auto - 5
20 in. - 50 Over 20 in. - 7
16 Ga. - 1
49
No
No
Yei
60
x4
62 NO
IV. AMMUNITION FOR PRIMARY SIDEARM
V.
SIZE SHOT USED IN SHOTGUN
Slugs - 17 00 Buck - 48
Fine Shot - 7
A. Issued by Dept.' Yes 53 No 6
B. Hollow Point Yes 32 No 23
C. Round Nose Yes 29 No 18
AMMUNITION FOR PLAINCLOTHES SIDEARM
A. Issued by Dept. Yes 47 No 10
B. Hollow Point Yes 27 No 26
C. ' Round Nose Yes 22 No 16
0 Buck - 2 1 Buck - 3 4 Buck - 11
AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS OF FIREARMS TRAINING IN ACADEMY
Shotgun - 8 Hrs. Pistol - 43 Hrs.