Law Enforcement Tactical Handgun Instructor Course

Registration deadline: 02/08/21

This 40 hour Train-the-Trainer course is designed to develop tactical handgun instructors who can return to their organizations as lead instructors and subject-matter experts.  Students will increase their personal skill level and effectiveness as well as their ability to instruct others in the safe and proper use of the handgun in a law enforcement-specific context.  Students must successfully pass practical and written examinations to receive an instructor certificate.

Instructor candidates will also be taught classroom instructional methods, how to effectively teach firearms operator skills relevant to the dynamic police operational environment, and how to develop dynamic and practical range training relevant to their agency’s needs.  This is an interactive course where students actively participate in the learning environment created by experienced firearms instructors.

NOTE:  Students must pass the ILETSB’s 40 hour Mandatory Firearms Training Qualification course of fire (50 rounds: 7,15 &25 yards) on the first morning of class.  Students failing to pass this course of fire at that time will not be allowed to continue with the class.

Upon successful completion of this course, the students will effectively:
•    Identify and apply firearms and range safety rules
•    Conduct a thorough range safety briefing
•    Identify steps to preliminarily treat and mitigate range-related gunshot wound incidents
•    Identify the areas of the brain responsible for stress and performance and the impact that flight or fight activation has on performance, memory and recall
•    Identify the stages of reaction time and critical incident performance factors
•    Identify foundational federal case law governing the use of force and deadly force
•    Identify the objective reasonableness doctrine and its context in police use of force situations
•    Describe the effectively convey the legal aspects of (IL) Peace Officer’s Use of Force in Making Arrest (720 ILCS 5/7-5)
•    Identify and discuss minimal versus reasonable force and policy/contextual implications
•    Identify considerations regarding thorough, accurate and effective use of force reporting
•    Instruct students in basic knowledge, nomenclature and selection of the revolver, pistol, and ammunition
•    Instruct students in the proper loading, unloading and operation of the revolver and semi-automatic pistol
•    Instruct students in basic handgun shooting fundamentals and marksmanship
•    Identify and provide remedy to shooters who exhibit difficulty with basic marksmanship skills
•    Identify and provide remedy to various weapon malfunctions
•    Identify challenges and tactical considerations involving the use of firearms in low or no-light environments
•    Effectively convey and incorporate the principles of adult learning and human factors into physical firearms skills instruction and student performance in the context of tactical law enforcement field use of the handgun
•    Safety operate the police firing range as a range master
•    Develop and safely and effectively deliver dynamic courses of live fire, incorporating proper police tactics
•    Clearly understand and convey potential issues for firearms instructors regarding failure to train liabilities
•    Instruct students in the proper handgun inspection and maintenance

Topics will include:
•    Safety and Trauma Care
•    Human Factors
•    Use of Force
•    Nomenclature and Function
•    Loading and Unloading
•    Shooting Fundamentals
•    Malfunctions and Clearing Drills
•    Low-light Shooting
•    IL Police Training Act Overview and Annual Qualification Standards
•    Instructor Development
•    Failure to Train and other Legal Considerations
•    Weapons Maintenance and Cleaning

Students will need the following equipment:
•    Semi-automatic duty handgun (revolvers may be brough/used in conjunction with semi-auto)
•    3 magazines for duty weapon (3 minimum, more is better)
•    Police duty belt, holster, and other related gear
•    Tactical flashlight (MUST be suitable for tactical use)
•    Eye and ear protection, ball cap
•    Body armor
•    Handgun cleaning kit
•    600 rounds factory-loaded handgun ammunition
•    10 or more dummy rounds

**NITAB will be following the current COVID-19 IDPH & ILETSB Requirements**
“Enrollment in MTu#2 classes is limited to ON DUTY law enforcement/corrections officers or
MTU#2 member agency employees”

This course has been certified by the ILETSB and approved to meet the following mandates:

    ☐    Civil Rights            
    ☐    Constitutional & Proper Use of Law Enforcement Authority    
    ☐    Cultural Competency        
    ☐    Drug Recognition Expert
    ☐    Epinephrine Autoinjector (EpiPen)    
    ☐    Human Rights
    ☐    Lead Homicide Investigator        
    ☒    Legal Updates
    ☐    Mental Health Awareness        
    ☐    Officer Wellness
    ☐    Opioid Antagonist (NARCAN)        
    ☐    Procedural Justice
    ☐    Psychology of Domestic Violence    
    ☐    Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect            
    ☐    Sexual Assault Investigator Training    
    ☐    Sexual Assault Trauma Informed Response
    ☒    Use of Force (must include scenario or similar approved training)

To receive a State Certificate / training credit for the above listed mandates, no more than 10% of the course hours can be missed.