APD officers slow to get firearm recertification

COMPLETE FIREARMS TRAINING — TRAINING THEY HAD SEVERAL CHANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO ATTEND VALERIE CASTRO IS LIVE AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS WITH THE DETAILS 37 OFFICERS TO BE EXACT HAVE FAILED TO BE RE-CERTIFIED TO USE THEIR GUNS AND NOW THEY VE ONLY GOT ONE MONTH LEFT TO GET IT DONE ACCORDING TO A-P-D THE STATE REQUIRES EVERY COP TO ATTEND THE TRAINING EVERY SINGLE YEAR THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS YEAR THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHO STILL HAVEN T COMPLETED THE TRAINING HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED COMPARED TO LAST YEAR 2 24 The number is a little larger this year but given the fact that the department is growing it isn t surprising and also that the officer s time is stretched thin THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE MANY REASONS OFFICERS CAN T MAKE THEIR TRAINING LIKE MILITARY DUTY AND COURT APPEARANCES WALSH SAYS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD EXTRA TRAINING SESSIONS UNTIL ALL THE OFFICERS ARE RE- CERTIFIED OR THEY COULD FACE DISCIPLINE LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM