When a situation

escalates to a police officer drawing his or her weapon, chances are the

whole situation has gone south. Deadly force may be necessary.

Like it or

not, police officers have to be ready for such situations, and armed officers

of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department took to the shooting range

last week to see how ready they are.

Although it's

not required by the state, the department has all its employees "qualify"

each year by scoring 80 percent or better on a 50-round shooting course

that tests their weapons proficiency. In timed drills, deputies shoot

at two targets from three, seven, 15 and 25 yards away.

Those who don't

pass the first time out get a second chance to qualify along with remedial

instruction. Most times, it's a matter of evaluating the deputy's technique

and improving a few things, said Sgt. Scott Ward, a firearms instructor

who is in charge of the department's shooting range.

"Usually

it's something mechanical we can work on," Ward said.

All deputies

use the Glock .40 cal. handgun. But the holsters vary due to special security

safeguards designed so the weapon can't be snatched out by a bad guy during

a struggle.

Ward says it's

all about how quickly you can get the weapon out of the holster and in

shooting position. "And the stance," he remembers.

"It just

takes practice," Ward said, admitting that he practices drawing his

weapon at home sometimes. "My holster, for example, they say you

shouldn't use on the road it until you've drawn from it 250 or 300 times."

That's a recommendation

from the manufacturer designed to make sure the lawman (or lawwoman) is

comfortable with how it works.

The idea is

to unholster the weapon efficiently in 1.5 seconds or less, said Lt. David

Moorman, another of the department's ten firearms instructors. For comparison's

sake, the first round of the 50-round course involves shooting the target

suspect twice in three seconds from a distance of three yards.

With 1.5 seconds

to raise and aim the gun, 1.5 seconds are left to fire two shots.

"That's

plenty of time," Moorman said.

Naturally,

it gets progressively tougher, with two targets to hit in different sequences

and distances going