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ODNR DIRECTIVE
TO: LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISIONS
FROM: SAM SPECK, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: WEAPONS SECURITY
Effective April 1, 2000
Purpose To define the issued and approved weapon guidelines and method of carry for all ODNR law enforcement officers.
Authority ORC 1501.01
Reference ORC 2923.11
Resource ODNR Law Enforcement Administrator and/or Chief Legal Counsel; Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy

Section I. - Issued Weapons

    1. Issue Weapons: It will be the responsibility of The Department to test and evaluate weapons and ammunition prior to issuance to an employee. Safety and reliability of weapon and/or ammunition are primary considerations in order to ensure optimal performance in the officer's work environment.

      Handguns must be purchased from reputable manufacturers for issue in the following calibers:
      1. 380 auto
      2. 38 special
      3. 357 cal.
      4. 9 mm
      5. 40 cal.
      6. 45 ACP
      7. 10 mm

        *Issue weapon and loading devices will be fully loaded
        while on duty.

        *A Division Chief may authorize certain non-enforcement employees to make use of firearms strictly for animal control purposes, provided such employees have received adequate safety training concerning use of firearms.

        Authorized handgun types authorized for use by non-enforcement employees.
        1. revolver at least 5 shot.
        2. semi-automatic – 5 shot capacity or better.
        3. chambered to fire caliber from Sec. I A
    2. Duty Ammunition
      1. Duty Ammunition will be purchased from a reputable manufacturer and replaced every 12 months or as needed. (Remanufactured ammunition is not acceptable for duty use.)
      2. Acceptable bullet configuration
        1. lead or lead composite bullets only
          1. lead/aluminum
          2. lead/copper
        2. single bullet per casing
        3. hollow point
        4. soft point
        5. hard ball
          1. wadcutter
          2. semi wadcutter
        6. jacketed bullet (copper or aluminum)
      3. Each Division will maintain test fired duty round and shell casing from all Division handguns and personal second weapons.
      4. Each officer will be issued 50 rounds of duty ammunition to load weapon and extra loading devices (2). Only this ammunition will be carried on duty. Extra loading devices or magazines may be carried on the officer for the second weapon.
    3. Other Firearms
      1. Carriage of shotgun, rifle and other special weapons issued will be at the discretion of the Division Chiefs, however, authorization for use will only be given to commissioned officers that have trained and qualified annually in use of same in accordance with OPOTC and Division standards.
      2. Second weapon - The Department does not encourage or discourage the practice of carrying a second handgun. Officers that choose to carry a second weapon will follow Departmental standards regarding this issue. Departmental standards are as follows,
        1. Acceptable weapon and caliber type:
          1. 380 auto
          2. 38 special
          3. 357 cal.
          4. 9 mm
          5. 10 mm
          6. 40 cal.
          7. 45 ACP
        2. Weapon must pass safety and mechanical check by Division firearms officer.
        3. Officer must meet all criteria listed in ODNR Commission Requirements Policy.
        4. Officer will supply duty ammunition for second weapon and meet sections I B-1, 2 & 3.
    4. Methods of Carry
      1. Duty weapon: An authorized weapon issued by the Division shall be worn when in uniform. Uniformed officers will carry the issued sidearm fully loaded in the issue holster. Once in the office, the Officer may remove and properly store the duty belt including weapon –or- the Officer may wear their duty weapon in a pancake holster and remove the enforcement belt with Chief’s prior approval. Outside the office, the enforcement duty belt shall be worn. When in civilian clothes and on duty, officers may carry issued sidearm or approved second weapon fully loaded and concealed from view, with approval of the Director or Directors designee, Chief or Chief's designee. Officers that have plain cloths carrying authority may wear the duty weapon exposed while in the office provided the badge is clearly visible. Officers will carry badge and I.D. at all times when carrying an issued weapon or second weapon while on duty, except as authorized by the Director or Chief. No issued weapon will be carried off duty without Director or Chief’s permission.

      2. Second weapon: Will be carried, during normal duty, on the officer’s person, out of sight and in a secure holster provided by the officer.

      3. Shotgun, rifles and other special weapons: Pump and semi-automatic shot guns are acceptable. Shotgun will be secured with either an electronic or mechanical locking rack.
      4. Weapon will not be carried in condition 1 or 2 (conditions defined below) until such time as its use is possible. Condition 3 will be the preferred condition. Weapons in storage area will be condition 4.
        4. Shotgun Conditions - Slide Action Shotgun
        1. Condition 4: No rounds in magazine, no rounds in chamber, slide back, breach opened.
        2. Condition 3: Chamber empty, slide forward, trigger-slide lock mechanism disarmed, safety off, magazine loaded, breach closed.
        3. Condition 2: Magazine charged, chamber charged, slide forward and locked, safety on, breach closed.
        4. Condition 1: Condition 2, safety off.
    5. Weapon Security - All Division firearms will be secured in the following manner.
      1. Office area: Attended: Weapon will be on the officer or stored out of sight. Unattended: Weapon in locked storage area.
      2. Vehicle: Attended: On person or secured. Unattended: Vehicle locked and weapon secured out of sight, however shotguns may be locked in rack. All firearms must be removed from a vehicle that is being serviced.
      3. Home: Attended: On person -or- Out of sight and stored, with the firearm secured with a trigger lock, gun lock, gun locking device, or gun locker. Unattended: Either house or storage area locked, the firearm out of sight and stored with the firearm secured with a trigger lock, gun lock, gun locking device, or gun locker.
      4. All other times: Weapons will be in the officer’s possession, another officer’s possession or in a secured storage area.
        The Director or Director’s designee may issue an exemption from these requirements for health and safety of an officer.
    6. Care and Maintenance: Officers will be responsible for the care and maintenance of their issued weapon and any approved second weapon. Only the Division Armorer, who has been trained by the manufacturer, or a certified gunsmith, are authorized to perform repairs on issue weapons.
      No modifications to issued service weapons, other than grips, may be performed by an officer, without written authorization by the Chief of the division.
      All weapons will be cleaned after each practice and prior to the officer returning to patrol duty.
      The Division Armorer will document all repairs and records will be maintained indefinitely.

Section II.-Intermediate Defensive Weapons

    1. ODNR commissioned officers will carry a minimum of one of the following authorized intermediate defensive weapons:
      1. Chemical mace - CS, CN, OC or combination
      2. Straight baton
      3. Side handle baton
      4. Kubaton
      5. Telescoping versions of the straight or side handle batons
      6. Flashlight
    2. Prior to use, training in the use of a particular intermediate defensive weapon must be accomplished. Training guidelines will adhere to manufacturers', legal, OPOTC and/or Division standards, whichever may apply.
    3. Any ordinance or weapon not listed in this section or Section I is prohibited for use by an ODNR officer without the permission of the Chief of the Division and the Department Law Enforcement Administrator.


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