Course Description

      Firearms instructors have an obligation to remain current in all realms of their chosen discipline. Your continuing training and education is as vital to us as it is for you, our students.  To meet this need, PPSC offers the Firearms Instructor Recertification & Update Program. Constantly revised and focused on today’s issues, this is an excellent way to attain current training insights and strategies .

    This course is the direct beneficiary of PPSC's stellar commitment to deadly force research, and will feature several members of PPSC's distinguished staff as guest lecturers in this program.

    We suggest that instructors who have been certified by Smith & Wesson Academy, the National Rifle Association, the FBI, etc, attend this update to their certification. This course should be taken every three years of to maintain a qualified status.

    This program is used to re-certify instructors who have received certification for;

·  Firearms Instructor

·  Pistol Instructor

·  Shotgun Instructor

·  Reduced Light Training Instructor

    Active firearms instructors not certified by of any of the previously mentioned training entities (e.g. state certified instructors) are also encouraged to participate in this program.

      Eligible candidates for this program are members of the police, corrections, military and security communities. ALL applicants MUST provide credentials of their affiliation with an accredited law enforcement, corrections, military or security organization for acceptance into this program.

Curriculum will include;

• Deadly Force Legal Update

• Contemporary DF Controversies

• Officer-Involved Shooting Misconceptions

• Improperly Addressed Low Light Issues

• Sighting vs. Aiming

• When Does A “Qualification Course” Invite Litigation?

• Where Proactive Firearm Techniques Are & Aren’t Appropriate

• Off-Duty & Duty Concealed Carry Issues

• Policy & Procedural Issues

• Range Exercises

• Range Proficiency Examinations

• Written Examination

Equipment Requirements

• Your duty & off-duty handguns

• Your duty & off-duty holsters

• Your duty shotgun

• Firearm cleaning equipment

• Wrap-around eye protection

• Hearing protection

• Clothing suitable for classroom and all likely range environments. Foul weather gear is recommended

• Duty flashlight(s)

• A minimum of 500 rounds of handgun ammunition (total, off-duty and duty ammo) The Handgun Proficiency Examination MUST be fired with service ammunition issued by the individual’s agency

• 50 rounds of duty-grade 00 Buckshot

• 20 rounds of duty-grade slugs

Course Instructor: Steve Ashley

      Steve has served in various law enforcement and police training capacities since 1974. In recent years he has also worked as a risk assessment specialist and police policy analyst. Steve is a certified instructor in many police subjects, including firearms, driving, radar, chemical munitions and defensive tactics, and has attended over 5,000 hours of advanced police training. Steve has been a police deadly force consultant, an expert witness in police use of force cases, and a consultant in cases involving police pursuit driving.

Course Instructor: Thomas Aveni

      Tom began his law enforcement career in 1978 and became active as a police trainer in 1983. He served as a Training Coordinator at Smith & Wesson Academy from 1990-2001. He has undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology.  Tom co-founding The Police Policy Studies Council, Tom has immersed himself in research pertinent to so-called “questionable” police shootings. Tom is a frequent contributor to Law & Order magazine, and other police publications.

Course Instructor: Lt. Dave Spaulding (Ret.)

      Lt. Dave Spaulding is a retired 28-year veteran of the Montgomery County (Ohio) Sheriff's Office. Throughout his career,  Dave has had experience in virtually all facets of law enforcement. Dave has been a frequent contributing author to several police publications. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Police Magazine, and is the author of "Defensive Living" and "Handgun Combatives." Dave has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Psychology.

Course Instructor: Lt. Dennis Tueller (Ret.)

      Internationally recognized and respected Law Enforcement Instructor, acknowledged by peers in books and publications; adjunct instructor/coach for world-renowned training organizations: Thunder Ranch, Inc. – Gunsite Training Center –U.S. D.O.E. Safeguards & Security Central Training Academy – Defense Training International – The Police Training Division – International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors; regularly invited presenter at major law enforcement training conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Please Note: All applications, tuition or POs must be received prior to the beginning of class. Tuition includes a comprehensive classroom manual and all classroom and range materials.

Eligible candidates for this program are members of the police, corrections, military and security communities. ALL applicants MUST provide credentials of their affiliation with an accredited law enforcement, corrections, military or security organization for acceptance into this program.