Firearms & Firearms Safety

The purpose of this policy is to provide University Police Officers with guidelines associated with the use, maintenance, safety, and qualification requirements related to University issued/authorized firearms.

Policy: Firearms & Firearm Safety

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: 5.3.1

Issue Date: August 22, 2011

Reviewed Date: April 15, 2026

Revised Date: April 15, 2026

 

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to provide University Police Officers with guidelines associated with the use, maintenance, safety, and qualification requirements related to University issued/authorized firearms.

Policy:

It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Police Department that all police officers adhere to the requirements established by this policy to ensure the safe handling and use of service firearms. All personnel shall recognize that the safety requirements outlined herein represent the minimum standards for safe operation under ideal conditions. As training and operational environments may present less-than-ideal conditions, officers are expected to remain cognizant of potential risks and hazards and to implement appropriate control measures to prevent injury or loss of life, avoid property damage, and ensure compliance with applicable environmental regulations

Definitions:

1. Authorized Firearm- any make, model or caliber of firearm that meets the University Police Department’s designated requirements and specifications; and has been formally approved by the University Police Chief for general or individual use, by sworn law enforcement personnel.  This can include pistol and/or rifle owned and issued by the University Police Department; it can also include a pistol or rifle personally owned by the sworn officer.  
2. Primary Service Handgun- the firearm, and related equipment, authorized by the University Police Chief and Firearms Instructor, to be carried by sworn officers while working in a uniform capacity.  This will be a semi-automatic, magazine fed handgun.
3. Patrol Rifle- a semi-automatic, magazine fed firearm in .223 caliber.  This maybe a department issued weapon, or maybe a weapon purchased individually by the officer, and authorized by the University Police Chief and Firearms Instructor (Reference: Authorization to Carry Personal Rifle While On Duty Form ).  Any departmental, or individually owned rifle shall be equipped with a sling and a standard iron sight system.  The iron sight can be fixed, or folding style.  Patrol rifles may include additional features including, but not limited to: weapon mounted flashlights, silencers, supplemental electronic sighting systems.  Additional features added to patrol rifles shall be approved by the Chief of Police and the Firearms Instructor.
4. Firearms Qualification- periodic testing is required of each University Police Officer to determine his/her competency to carry department authorized firearms.

Procedures:

1. General Provisions
   1. Any firearm carried by University Police Officers when on or off duty - with the exception of weapons used for recreational purposes - must be authorized by the University Police Chief, and with the recommendation of the Firearms Instructor.
   2. Only ammunition that has been approved by the University Police Chief shall be used in the primary service handgun and department authorized patrol rifle.
   3. Only sworn officers who have successfully passed firearms qualification and use of force training courses prescribed by the University Police are authorized to a carry a firearm.
   4. Any authorized handgun carried on duty shall be carried in accordance with uniform and related requirements and as otherwise specified by this policy.
   5. University Police Officers shall be issued fresh duty ammunition in the specified quantity for the primary service handgun during the police officers’ scheduled qualification each year.  Replacements for defective or depleted ammunition shall be issued by the University Police Chief, or department firearms instructor, when needed.  Duty ammunition will not be used for practice, unless a Department scheduled certification training exercise requires use of duty ammunition.
   6. University Police Officers shall carry only one primary service handgun. 
   7. If a University Police Officer is on a leave of absence from the Department for a period exceeding thirty days, the Police Officer will return the primary service handgun, equipment and all ammunition to the University Police Chief as soon as the leave of absence is scheduled to begin.
   8. All sworn officers shall be armed when on duty as a University Police Officer.
   9. If a Police Officer discharges his/her authorized firearm on duty, other than in the course of training or to dispatch an animal, the officer must notify the Police Chief or designee immediately by email or text message.  A case number shall be assigned and the officer will complete an incident report documenting the event. (Reference policy “Use of Force” and “Use of Force Reporting”). (5.3.1.1)
   10. The University Police Chief may choose to seize the firearm for further investigation.  This section does not apply to officers who discharge a firearm while not on duty.

2. Off-duty Firearms
   1. Officers may carry an authorized firearm while off-duty, consistent with Wisconsin Statutes. (Reference: Off-Duty Firearm Authorization Request Form)
   2. Officers are not required to carry a firearm while off-duty.
   3. The use of force policy shall apply whether the University Police Officer is on or off duty.     
   4. When armed, whether on or off duty, police officers shall carry their badge and agency identification.
   5. Prior to carrying a personally owned firearm off duty the officer must complete the following steps:
      1. The proper authorization form must be completed by the officer.
      2. The firearm must meet with the approval of the department firearms instructor and/or department armorer.
      3. The officer must qualify with his/her personally owned firearm and said qualification will be recorded by the firearms instructor and forwarded to the University Police Chief with the authorization request form for his/her approval.
      4. Officers are prohibited from carrying any firearm – with the exception of a firearm used for recreational purposes - on their person that has not been approved by the University Police Chief.             
3. Firearms Training Scheduling:
   1. Firearms training shall not be scheduled to take place during the Instructor’s regular patrol shift or while providing Police coverage to the University of Platteville. 
   2. Firearms training shall be scheduled for;
      1. Work days which allow the Instructor’s shift counterpart to provide regular Police coverage.
      2. After his/her scheduled shift has ended.
      3. On the Instructor’s regular day off.  If training is scheduled on the Instructor’s day off, he/she may choose to flex the training day hours on a different work day.
4. Firearms Safety
   1. Police Officers shall not carry a firearm on or off duty when they are impaired by medication/drugs or have any blood alcohol content.
   2. Police Officers shall inform the University Police Chief of any prescription drugs or other medications being used if the medication manufacturer states that use could impair his/her ability or judgment.
   3. Police Officers shall not store or leave any firearm in any place within the reach or easy access of a minor or other non-authorized person.
   4. All authorized handguns shall be carried in a safe and secure manner as approved by the University Police Chief. 
   5. Removal of a firearm from its holster for any reason other than authorized purposes is prohibited.  Any careless, flippant, or casual use or display of a firearm will constitute grounds for discipline.
   6. The patrol rifle shall be kept secured in the squad car in a cruiser ready condition.  This means the rifle has a full magazine in the magazine well, the chamber is empty and the safety engaged.
5. General Range Safety Rules:
   1. Safety is the responsibility of every individual. Every person participating or observing training while on the range is a safety officer and can call "cease fire" or halt training at any time when a potential safety issue or hazard exists.
   2. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
   3. Never point a firearm at anything or anybody you do not intend to shoot or in a direction where an unintentional discharge may do harm or cause damage.
   4. Never place your finger into the trigger guard or on the trigger until ready to fire (master grip).
   5. Be sure of your target, backstop and beyond.
   6. Firearms will be loaded and unloaded with the muzzle or barrel pointed downrange.
   7. No malfunctioning weapon will be removed from the firing line without first being cleared of the malfunction, unloaded completely and made safe.
   8. Any and all accidental damage to property which occurs during training will be reported to the Chief of Police and/or his designee.
6. Firearms Qualifications
   1. All Police Officers authorized to carry a firearm shall be required to qualify with the primary service handgun, or their authorized handgun and the patrol rifle at least on a semi-annual basis.
   2. All Police Officers shall be graded per the Wisconsin Department of Justice Training and Standards qualification standards for the purpose of the state mandated annual firearm qualification course.
   3. On at least an annual basis, all Police Officers authorized to carry a firearm shall be required to demonstrate their understanding of the law and department policy and procedures relating to the use of force.
   4. Any Police Officer who fails to qualify with the primary service handgun or their authorized handgun within a reasonable period, and after remedial training or other corrective action, shall be relieved of law enforcement duties and assigned only security duties pending the outcome of an administrative review and/or a fitness for duty evaluation by the University Police Chief.
   5. Police Officers shall be allowed no more than two attempts to qualify with both the primary service or their authorized handgun and the patrol rifle on any given day.  Police Officers who fail to qualify shall be scheduled for remedial firearms training.
   6. The Police Officer shall be given two additional attempts to re-qualify.  If the police officer fails, the University Police Chief will meet with the firearms instructor regarding corrective action that is necessary.
   7. Police Officers must qualify with their primary service or their authorized handgun following a return to duty after a leave of absence of more than 180 days.
7. Firearms Modifications and Maintenance
   1. No modifications will be made to the primary service handgun without prior approval of the University Police Chief.
   2. Defective, unsafe, or unauthorized firearms shall be reported to the University Police Chief immediately.
   3. Repairs to any department issued firearm shall be made by individuals who have been authorized to do so by the University Police Chief.
   4. Authorized firearms shall be maintained in a clean and safe operating condition and will be inspected on a random basis.
   5. All Police Officers shall report for duty with a clean and fully loaded duty handgun.
8. Injury:
   1. In the event of a serious injury or fatality occurring from firearm use, all range operations will be terminated and the care of the injured and security of the incident site becomes priority. The following actions will be strictly adhered to if there is an incident on the shooting range:
      1. The Firearms Instructor(s) will call "Cease Fire" and ensure all personnel make safe all firearms.
      2. Those present will immediately initiate care for the injured at the appropriate level.
      3. The Firearms Instructor(s) will initiate a call to dispatch for EMS assistance, providing the nature of injury (range accident), condition of the injured, what medical assistance is in progress, and any additional information that will assist emergency medical services.
      4. Because of the firing range’s close proximity to the hospital an additional determination should be made by the Firearms Instructor(s) to wait for EMS or evacuate the injured directly to the hospital. Factors to consider are vehicle access, condition of the injured, treatment being provided to the injured, etc.
      5. The Firearms Instructor(s) will assist in clearing the range area and securing the incident site to preserve any evidence. The firing range will be cordoned off pending investigation by an outside agency.
      6. Once the injured has been evacuated, the Firearms Instructor(s) or designee will make notifications to the University Chief of Police and/or his designee.
      7. Due to the firing range being an entity under the control of the City of Platteville Police Department, they will be notified of the incident to ensure.