Retired Police Right to Carry Weapons

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAFETY ACT FOR 2004 (LEOSA FEDERAL RIGHT TO CARRY)

Retired members of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) must meet all Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) requirements to be eligible for the certification program. The requirements include:

  • Retired in good standing as a law enforcement officer, other than for reasons of mental instability. He or she must have had 10 years or more of active service or retired with a service-connected disability. A person retiring as the result of a service-connected disability must have completed his or her probationary period.
  • Retiree has a non-forfeitable right to benefits under the retirement plan of the agency.
  • During the most recent 12-month period, he or she has met, at the expense of the individual, the State's standards for the training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms.
  • Retiree is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance, including prescription drugs or any drug which may impair the retiree's ability to qualify at the BCoPD range.
  • Retiree is not prohibited by Federal law to possess a firearm.

RETIREE REQUIREMENTS

Retiree requirements include:

  • Submit a completed Retiree Certification Form (RCF) to the County's LEOSA coordinator at LEOSA@baltimorecountymd.gov.
  • Submit and pass a background check.
  • Present a current departmental retiree photo identification card to range personnel.
  • Complete a Range Liability Waiver.
  • Attend a training session, which includes classroom and qualification courses.

QUALIFICATION COURSE

For the qualification course, you must:

  • Be able to kneel and stand up unassisted, while on the firing line.
  • Bring at least 60 rounds of factory ammunition for qualification.
  • Qualify and carry the ammunition that meets the specifications developed by the Firearms Training Team.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Retirees who attend the certification program will be able to qualify:

  • On the type of weapon that you were initially trained with or converted to by the Department.
  • With a weapon that is approved for off-duty use by active members.
  • Two of the most common weapons carried by officers include:
    • Smith and Wesson Model 60 (Revolver: .38 cal)
    • SIG Sauer Model P239 (9mm and .40 cal)
    • Note: The above are only examples of weapons that are permitted. They are not the only acceptable pistols.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT CRITERIA

All weapons and ammunition must meet the following specifications.

Allowed caliber:

  • .38 
  • .357 Magnum 
  • 9mm 
  • .40
  • .45 ACP

The ammunition must be factory-manufactured; no reloads will be permitted at the range. The following ammunition specifications have been approved for use at the range:

  •  9mm 115 to 147 gr. hollow point
  • .40 cal 
  • .45 cal
  • .357 SIG 
  • .38 cal 

  • Your weapon must be a revolver or a pistol.
  • All pistols must have an internal safety device that will block the firing pin from striking the cartridge unless the trigger is pulled.
  • Weapons equipped with a striker firing pin must operate in the double action mode where the pin is drawn back with each pull of the trigger prior to its release.
  • No pistol may have an external safety device except trigger-blocking devices that are required by Maryland law.
  • The trigger pull for any pistol must not be less than six pounds for double action and four pounds for single action.
  • The trigger pull for a revolver must not be less than eight pounds.
  • The revolver must have an internal safety designed to block the hammer from striking the cartridge case unless the trigger is pulled. 
  • You are responsible for any repairs to the weapons.
  • No modified weapons.

PROCEDURE

LEOSA requires annual completion of the Retiree Certification Form, criminal background check, classroom instruction and range qualification.

The retiree will:

  1. Choose Qualification Dates

    Review the qualification calendar, choose three dates and list them on the bottom of the Retiree Certification Form (RCF). You may not be given your selected choice. Please carefully read your confirmation email to confirm the scheduled date.

  2. Submit the Retiree Certification Form

    Within 60 days of your LEOSA expiration date (submissions prior to 60 days will not be accepted), complete the Retiree Certification Form (RCF) and submit it by email to LEOSA@baltimorecountymd.gov. The form may also be mailed to:

    Firearms Training Center (LEOSA)
    2001 Dulaney Valley Road
    Lutherville, Maryland 21093
    Phone: 410-887-2330

  3. Wait for Your Qualification Date

    Once the certification has been approved, you will be given a date and time to qualify. Plan on a two-week waiting period from submission until you are contacted by email. Note: You won't be permitted to participate in the County's LEOSA qualification program without first receiving confirmation from the LEOSA coordinator or range personnel.

2024 Qualification Dates

  • October 3 at 9 a.m.
  • October 17 at 9 a.m.
  • November 7 at 9 a.m.
  • November 21 at 9 a.m.
  • December 5 at 9 a.m.
  • December 19 at 9 a.m.

2025 Qualification Dates

  • January 9 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • March 13 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • March 27 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • May 8 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • June 5 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • July 10 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • August 21 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • October 2 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • December 4 at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.