CLASS SPECIFICATION

FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR

Definition of Class:

This is skilled, non supervisory work involving development and presentation of firearms courses of instruction. Personal contacts are focused upon entry level and experienced law enforcement officers, to provide firearms instruction. To a lesser extent, contacts also include other Firearms Instructors, to discuss firearms instructional methods, procedures and practices, research findings, and lesson plans and instructional aids; supervisory police personnel, to receive and provide information about assigned duties and responsibilities, coordinate scheduling of instructional classes, and discuss new/revised lesson plans and research findings; and representatives of other law enforcement and regulatory agencies and training organizations, to coordinate/schedule instructional classes, and confer about new weapons, tactics and equipment. Significant about this class of work are the verbal and written communication skills which an employee uses to convey firearms instructions and information to students of varying backgrounds, hand/eye and other physical coordination skills and abilities, and firearms experience. This class of work does not require an employee to provide direct public service or assistance on a sustained basis.

An employee in this class is responsible for independently planning for and carrying out all assigned classroom and field firearms instructional duties and responsibilities. The employee's supervisor establishes Department firearms training objectives and the resources available to accomplish same. Without technical supervision, the employee is expected to determine and plan the topics/subjects to be covered, subject matter content, organization of the course, including manner of instruction, and the emphasis to be given selected elements of each course. The guidelines surrounding this class of work are numerous, and usually specific and detailed, e.g., Department directive regarding use of deadly force, weapons repair manuals, Maryland Police Training Commission regulations and guidelines, Department patrol procedures, generally accepted firearms safety rules, techniques and procedures, and other reports, manuals and technical publications concerning firearms and marksmanship skills. With these guidelines, employees develop lesson plans which are reviewed for consistency with firearms training objectives and Department firearms policies and procedures, and approved by police supervisory personnel before implementation. The complexity of this work is realized through an employee's independent development, organization and presentation of a variety of instructional courses which include the formulation of teaching, testing and evaluation criteria. Work is further complicated by the evolving scenarios and weapons against which self defense and offensive tactical instruction is prepared and presented. Employees are also expected to repair all weapons which are issued to and used by Department law enforcement officers. The impact of properly performed work is realized by skillfully instructing students in a wide variety of firearms subjects and scenarios, especially shooting skills and techniques. Courses of instruction enable law enforcement officers to: accurately shoot pistols, shotguns and rifles in a rapid and accurate manner; correct weapon malfunctions; know weapons nomenclature; clean and care for weapons; detail disassemble and assemble weapons; and maintain proper sight alignment/sight picture, grip, and stance in standing, kneeling and horizontal positions. An integral part of all firearms instruction is the development and application of law enforcement officer judgment for using deadly force. The large majority of work involves some unpleasantness and discomforts, as it is carried out in indoor (not temperature controlled) and outside weapons firing ranges where an employee is routinely exposed to weapons firing noise, lead dust, insects and rodents, and all weather conditions. Approximately one-fifth of an employee's time is spent in a temperature controlled, pleasant classroom and office setting. The hazards of this work are significant because of an employee's regular and routine exposure to live firing of sophisticated weapons, much of which occurs in the presence of inexperienced law enforcement personnel in demanding and challenging firing drills and positions. Hazards are also experienced by the presence of lead dust in an indoor firing range, use of weapons cleaning solvents, compressed air, and exposure to weapons and target parts, tools and equipment, some of which are sharp and under spring tension. These hazardous working conditions require employees to strictly follow safety procedures and regularly use body armor, helmet, ear and eye protection. The physical demands of this work require an employee to stand and walk for extended periods of time while instructing in the classroom and on the firing ranges; run, jump, bend, climb and roll during live firing and other exercises; periodically and independently unload, carry, and stack ammunition, weapons, tools, target parts and equipment weighing up to approximately 60 pounds; construct, repair, move and position targets, weapons, and simulated rooms and furniture; and "police" weapons firing ranges for cartridges and other debris.

Examples of Duties (Illustrative only):

Researches, develops, revises and provides firearms instruction for a variety of courses and settings involving pistols and revolvers, shotguns and other shoulder weapons.
Develops lesson plans, training aids, student outlines, tests and course evaluation criteria.
Observes, analyzes and corrects student firing practices and positions; provides remedial training for students unable to acquire basic skills. Provides written and verbal recommendations about students' performance and their ability to handle weapons in a safe manner.
Searches for, reviews and analyzes professional literature, and interviews personnel for pertinent information which can be applied to firearms courses of instruction.
Provides advice and recommendations to representatives of other law enforcement agencies about firearms related subjects.
Orders weapons, ammunition, target materials and related firearms equipment, supplies and parts.
Inspects, test fires, repairs and cleans firearms.
Maintains all indoor and outdoor firing range targets, target tracks and target turning systems, electric motors, and other firearms related equipment and structures; arranges for skilled craftsworkers to provide repairs when necessary.
Maintains all student training records, and a current inventory of all ammunition, weapons, tools, equipment, supplies, parts and uniforms.
Schedules all entry and in-service firearms instruction .
Conducts new product weapons, ammunition and holster tests, and prepares evaluative reports.
Provides firearms instruction peculiar to motor vehicle, hostage, domestic dispute and other scenarios.
Unloads, carries and places ammunition, weapons, cardboard "backers" for targets, obstacles, target frames, tires, and other firearms related equipment and supplies.
Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience: Three (3) years of experience as a State and/or Federally certified firearms instructor in a law enforcement training environment.
Education: Possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
Equivalency: College education completed beyond the Bachelor's Degree may not be substituted for any portion of the experiential requirement. Excess experience beyond the minimum requirement may be substituted for the Bachelor's Degree on a year for year basis.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Thorough knowledge of generally accepted law enforcement firearms principles, practices, methods and techniques to develop course content and conduct courses of instruction in this field.
Thorough knowledge of firearms instructional techniques, methods and principles to direct students in the full range of learning, to include analytical ability and judgmental shooting.
Thorough knowledge of firearms functioning, safety, malfunctions and proper procedures for "clearing" a weapon, and ballistics to provide instruction about same.
Thorough knowledge of writing and research techniques, spelling and grammar to prepare lesson plans/outlines, student handouts, evaluative reports and similar documents and correspondence.
Skill and ability to effectively and persuasively present firearms instruction in classroom and field training locations.
Skill and ability to independently operate, maintain and repair Department issued and approved off duty firearms and firearms firing range equipment.
Skill and ability to independently research and report on source material in the law enforcement firearms field.
Skill and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to independently move by lifting, carrying, dragging, rolling, pushing or other means firearms and related equipment, tools, parts, equipment, supplies and ammunition.
Ability to run, jump, crawl, bend, crouch and climb as part of field exercise instructional presentations.

License, Certificate, etc.:

Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license appropriate to the type and class of vehicle(s) which employees are required to drive as part of their instructional duties and responsibilities.
Possession of or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months from day of appointment/promotion/transfer a current Maryland Police Training Commission issued Firearms Instructor Certificate. If the required Certificate is not obtained within the prescribed 12 month period, employee may be terminated from continuing employment.

Probationary Period:

The probationary period must be 12 months for a full-time or part-time employee appointed to a merit system position and 6 months for a promoted employee, during which time work performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

Medical Protocol:

Core Exam and Drug Screen

Class Established: November 1998