5-414 - Duty Handguns

To establish expectations of responsibilities and understanding of regulations surrounding duty handguns handled by members of the MPD.

Duty Handguns for Members Hired on or after December 1, 2018

1. Members hired on or after December 1, 2018 shall only be permitted to carry Department-owned firearms as their primary duty handguns.

1. The MPD Range Master shall maintain the approved list of the Department-owned primary duty handguns authorized by the Chief of Police.
2. The authorized caliber for primary duty handguns is 9mm.

2. Members who wish to convert to an authorized Department-owned handgun as a primary duty handgun shall attend and pass an appropriate conversion course at the MPD Range.
3. Upon successful completion of the conversion course, the authorized handgun shall be the only handgun a member is authorized to carry as their primary duty handgun while on duty.

Second Handgun

1. Members may elect to carry a second declared handgun while on duty, provided they have passed the appropriate conversion and qualification courses for the particular handgun.
2. The MPD Range Master shall maintain the approved list of second handguns and calibers.
3. Members may only carry a second gun that is under the same platform (striker or hammer) as their authorized primary duty handgun.
4. Members working in an active undercover capacity may use their second handgun as their duty handgun during these operations for member safety purposes with approval of their Inspector or Commander.
5. Members who wish to carry a second handgun on duty shall carry it concealed and in a holster.

Authorized Handguns for Members Hired before December 1, 2018

1. Members hired before December 1, 2018 are authorized to continue carrying any handgun that was previously authorized, provided they have a duty declaration form on file with the range and they have qualified with that weapon prior to December 1, 2018.
2. Members will be permitted to replace a declared handgun that has been lost, stolen, destroyed or deemed inoperable by the range staff.
3. The Range Master shall maintain the list of firearms authorized before December 1, 2018.

Red Dot Sights (RDS)

RDS Weapon Training and Qualifications

1. Members must attend and successfully pass an RDS transition course or have approval by the Range Master before they are authorized to carry an RDS-equipped handgun on duty.
2. Members who carry an RDS-equipped duty gun shall score an 80% or better on the yearly MPD handgun qualification.

Approved Equipment and Altering of Duty Weapons for RDS

1. The Range Master maintains a list of manufactured weapon systems designed to accept RDS that are approved for duty use.

2. Milling or altering slides to mount RDS must be pre-approved by the Range Master.
3. The Range Master maintains a list of authorized manufactures and models of RDS and duty holsters that are approved.
4. Duty guns must have back up iron sights (BUIS) in the event of an RDS or battery failure.
5. If the RDS are not pre-installed by the weapon manufacture, installation of RDS and backup iron sights shall be done by range staff.
6. Range staff will perform battery changes on optics that require optic removal from slide.
7. Members shall supply their own batteries for personally owned RDS systems. MPD will supply the batteries for department issued RDS systems. Replacement batteries are available at the range. Range Master maintains a list of approved batteries to be used.

Regulations Applicable to All Handguns

1. All members shall attend and pass annual firearms training required by the MN POST Board.

1. A Declaration of Duty Handgun form (MP-8876) shall be completed by the member and kept on file at the MPD Range for every handgun a member has declared as a duty weapon.
2. Firearm qualification records shall be maintained by the MPD Range.

2. All members shall carry a declared handgun while on duty and in uniform, unless otherwise prohibited.

1. All handguns carried while on duty shall be fully loaded.
2. All handguns carried while on duty shall be carried in holsters.

3. Members working a plainclothes assignment shall wear their declared handguns in a manner that will not attract attention or be open to public view.
4. Members working in an undercover capacity may be permitted to be unarmed based on the nature of their undercover assignment, with approval of their Inspector or Commander.
5. Members working in uniform shall carry two additional fully loaded magazines for semi-automatic handguns or two fully loaded speed loaders for revolvers.
6. The Range Master shall maintain a list of approved lights and holsters for all handguns that the MPD uses.

1. The light attachment shall not be the primary flashlight. Members shall carry an MPD approved flashlight (refer to P&P 3-202 Required Equipment).
2. Prior to adding a light to a declared handgun, members shall attend and pass a qualification course at the MPD Range with the new equipment.
3. Laser sight systems are prohibited.

7. Declared handguns shall not be altered in any way without approval of the Range Master.
8. Servicing (Gunsmithing and Alterations) of Department-owned handguns shall only be performed by MPD Range Staff. This does not include routine cleaning and general handgun maintenance, when performed by members at the direction of MPD Range Staff.

• Firearms/Ammunition/Firearm Accessories: A device that projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity. Ammunition is a term meaning the assembly of a projectile and its propellant. Accessories include but are not limited to holsters, gun cases, firearm optics, suppression devices, cleaning supplies, etc.
• Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training: Oversees law enforcement licensing and training requirements for law enforcement agencies and officers.
• POST Board: Oversees law enforcement licensing and training requirements for law enforcement agencies and officers.