I.    Purpose

The Saint Paul Police Department has recognized that there is a need for officers to have access to AR15-type patrol rifles (patrol rifle) to increase officer and citizen safety. This policy defines the issuing, storage, and deployment of department-owned and personally-owned-patrol rifles. No part of this policy restricts the issuing, training, and deployment of department owned patrol rifles by members of S.W.A.T. when authorized by the S.W.A.T. commander. (See Section VIII)

II. Authorization to Use

No person(s) may carry or use any patrol rifle until they have successfully completed an AR operators course conducted by the department and has the authorization of their unit/district commander. Officers will be required to attend all department qualifications and maintain proficiency with the rifle. The range staff shall maintain the AR operators list of those officers who have met the requirements and are authorized to carry and deploy the patrol rifles. The training unit commander has the authority to remove any officer from the AR operators list who has violated any part of the AR15-Type Patrol Rifles Policy or failed to maintain proficiency with the weapon.

 III. Qualifications and Training

The range staff shall conduct regular AR15-type patrol rifle qualifications and training to ensure that officers maintain proficiency with the weapon. Any officer who misses a mandatory qualification or training without previous range approval will be subject to removal from the AR operators list.

IV. Department-Owned AR-Type Patrol Rifles.

The range will issue department-owned patrol rifles to the districts and any other unit authorized by the training unit commander. District and unit commanders are responsible for the patrol rifles and ammunition assigned to their units. A semi-annual inventory will be conducted by the district/unit commander to assure that all department-owned patrol rifles and ammunition assigned to their unit are accounted for.

Unit and district commanders shall set procedures for the checking out and returning the rifles assigned to their units. The range staff will work with district/unit commanders to develop methods for securing the rifles when they are not deployed.

 V.  Personally-Owned AR-Type Patrol Rifles

All officers approved to carry and use a department-owned patrol rifle may choose to carry their personally-owned patrol rifle on-duty. The personally-owned rifle must meet the requirements of this policy. The minimum requirements for a personally-owned patrol rifle are:

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  5. Approved sling.
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  8. Approved carrying case.

Officers wishing to use their personally-owned patrol rifle must have their rifles approved by the range master or authorized range staff. The range will maintain a record of the condition and all equipment on the rifle when it was approved. Officers may add optional approved equipment (optics etc.) to their patrol rifle. The patrol rifle must be re-inspected and approved by the range prior to using it on-duty. Any officers carrying a patrol rifle that has not been approved by the range will be subject to disciplinary action and will be removed from the AR operators program.

Personally-owned patrol rifles will be inspected by the range on an annual basis. Officers are responsible for the costs of replacing or repairing items that are in need of repair.

The range will supply duty and practice ammunition for department qualifications and authorized duty use. Officers will qualify with only one rifle; for example, if you qualify and train with your personally-owned patrol rifle you will not be authorized to carry the department patrol rifles.

In the event that an officer is involved in a shooting with their personally-owned patrol rifle, the rifle will be taken as evidence and will remain in department custody until it is released by the city and county attorney’s office. If possible, the department will attempt to provide the officer with a department-owned patrol rifle for on-duty use while the officer’s rifle is being held.

Any officer that chooses to use a patrol rifle with a barrel of less than 16” must be able to provide documentation with federal tax stamp which shows the rifle is properly licensed.  This will be verified by range staff prior to approving the use of the short barreled rifle.

 VI. Securing Patrol Rifles in Squads

Officers participating in the rifle program will be required to secure the rifle in their department vehicle in a manner to prevent loss or theft. Redacted.

 VII. Deployment

Officers who have met the requirements of this policy may deploy the patrol rifle they are carrying as they see necessary in accordance with the General Order 246.00. Officers should only deploy the patrol rifle when the incident is of such a nature that the deployment would be reasonable. Examples of the reasonable deployment of the rifle would be an active shooter call, a shooting in which the suspect may still be on scene, or other weapon-related incidents.

On-duty supervisors may override the officer’s use of a patrol rifle by instructing the officer or asking the dispatcher to instruct the officer to secure the patrol rifle and return the rifle to storage per this policy.

 VIII. S.W.A.T.   

The S.W.A.T. commander will be responsible for determining the policy for the issuing, training, and deployment of department-owned patrol rifles for the members of S.W.A.T. S.W.A.T. officers may not carry personally-owned patrol rifles unless they adhere to General Order 249.00: AR15 Type Patrol Rifles

Revised May 22, 2019

Last Edited: July 22, 2020