Most police officers get a fair amount of practice with their sidearms, but they don’t fire a shotgun very often, perhaps once a year in most departments. There is a running debate in law enforcement over when to take the shotgun out of the police car or run without it.

Police and civilians need to know how their shotguns pattern and be constantly aware of their target and what is behind it.

 

This video was shot in Pasadena, California, with the cooperation of the Pasadena Police Department.

Originally a public domain film from the Library of Congress Prelinger Archives.