Last year Maryland totally revamped the paperwork requirements that enable LEOSA certification, and it required submission of a rather unwieldy 12 or so pages of documentation. That was because a few boneheads from other states tried to claim Maryland residency and take advantage of all the great things Maryland has to offer...including a pro-active LEOSA certification program. That apparently identified those commiting fraud, and a new program has been instituted. Here's what happens now...

If one's agency does NOT offer LEOSA certification, the Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission will qualify eligible personnel. They handle the entire process...including issuance of the LEOSA card that was formerly the responsibility of the Maryland State Police.

And, the paperwork is greatly simplified and only has to be completed once...provided one qualifies at least once every 2 years. I was part of the very first class to qualify under the new system, yesterday, August 9, 2011.

Reported at 0815 and was photographed and paperwork was reviewed. In fact, I was challenged regarding a pen and ink change to my auto-filled documents. The reviewer inquired if the change was made before or after the package was notarized. Of course, it was before, but the attention to detail was appreciated.

Approximnately 1 hour of classroom instruction followed. That consisted of a safety review and a discussion of LEOSA requirements/changes, legal update, and related topics.

Maryland only offers qualification with one type weapon. I used my M60 NY-1. Only one other person among the 9 in the class used a revolver. Fired the 30 round day course and qualified with 141/150. NOT happy with that score. Had never qualified with the M60 and had difficulty with sight alignment from the 25 yard line. The front blade will get some red paint very soon. Not an excuse; the little gun was accurate and smooth, as always.

Night fire was shot with 142/150. Same sight alignment problem. Night fire was enabled via use of welding goggles. Trust me, it was dark with them on. Hot, too.

Some important notes: Gun and ammo is inspected by MPCTC personel upon arrival. You are NOT allowed to enter the facility with a live weapon. No foreign manufactured ammo or personal reloads are allowed. Period. Blazer and Wolf ammo is prohibited.

We were to bring 100 rounds of ammo. I failed to do so and at the last moment had to cobble together an array of ammo from personal and other sources. As a result, I shot everything from wadcutters to roundball to hollow points, to +P+ loads. Yes, upon my return home I found the second box of ammo on the table where I had left it.

A written test followed the courses of fire. Passed that with a 100% score. It was easy.

With minimum delay our "Concealed Firearms Carry Certification" cards were presented to us and off we went.

Yes, I did load in the parking lot before heading home. Yes, that is permitted.

I am now LEOSA certified until midnight, August 8, 2012.

Be safe.

Sounds complecated. Under the new rules (2010 edition) If a Instructor is quailfied to certifiy active officers in a given state, he/she can certify any retired officer. (I retired from the Anchorage Police Dept. but live in Wyoming).

An example where I live, there is a quite a turn over in these small departments, never know who's an instructor any more. The one consistent is a Deputy, but he's a friend of mine and I want to keep friendship out of the deal just to make it look good.

I take a road trip to Portland every year around the 4th of July to visit my Daughter. Clackamas County had a program to certify retirees. You have to use their ammo in their indoor range, but thats not bad since they charge $45 for the certification including ammo. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office does a lot of this and if needed they have the background to cover you in court.

There are simular places that do this across the country, but since I go to Oregon every year, I get consistency.

You shoot the Oregon qualification course (25 rounds), they give you a laminated card certifying you qualified and you're good to go for another year. (of course you have to present your Retired ID to be able to qualify).

As to your Model 60's sights. I shoot a Model 64 in competition. I had problems with the sight until I started painting the front sight with floresent orange paint. Now that sight really jumps out at you. Seems like when you shoot, the only thing you see is that bright orange sight. It really helped my shooting.

Always nice to hear the updates. Blazer banned. My department issued me Blazer for the qualification and gave me a box to take home. It shot well in the Sigma.....Texas DPS only approved. WW, Hornady, PMC, Remmington, Speer, Federal, Am Eagle, Fiocchi and maybe afew others. We CHL instructors can have the person shoot anything we approve, but I personally don't approve reloads because i dont want the gun to blow up. The DPS requirement is only for Instructor Certification. Isnt it amazing how different people feel about certain ammo...one state bans it, another issues it.