Perry County police complete annual firearms training and qualification

Perry County police wrapped up their annual firearms training and qualification exercise with a practical test that measured more than marksmanship. Officers fired a 50-round handgun course designed to check accuracy, reloads and one-handed shooting at distances from 3 to 25 yards, the kind of work that translates directly to split-second decisions in the field.

The qualification follows Indiana’s statewide framework for law enforcement firearms training. Under the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy’s course of fire, officers must score at least 80 points out of 100 to qualify, a standard that keeps annual weapons training tied to a clear and measurable benchmark. The Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board approved a new firearms qualification policy in December 2025, allowed academies statewide to begin using it on Jan. 1, 2026, and made it mandatory June 1, 2026.

That policy matters for departments like the Perry County Sheriff’s Office because firearms qualification is not treated as a stand-alone drill. It is part of a broader readiness system that also depends on coordinated training, consistent standards and public accountability. The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, based in Plainfield, says it trains more than 600 Hoosier law enforcement officers every year, underscoring how widely shared those expectations are across the state.

Sheriff William R. Barker’s office has said it has made several changes in operations to better meet the needs of the public, including updates to its website and continued efforts to improve community engagement and service. The department’s mission statement says it seeks to maintain social order and provide professional law enforcement services to Perry County citizens, a goal that depends as much on preparation and trust as it does on enforcement.

The office has also pointed to broader public-safety work beyond the firing line, including Camp with a Cop and traffic-safety partnerships with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Together, those efforts show how annual qualification fits into the larger job in Perry County: keeping officers sharp, keeping standards current and making sure local departments are prepared when routine calls turn into emergencies.