Results indicated that department’s regarded the combat related aspects of the BLEA handgun qualification course as less satisfying than the other more traditional aspects of training. More specifically, the findings suggest that the pre-service firearm and deadly force training may not sufficiently address tactics and decisionmaking. Instructors were dissatisfied with recruits’ abilities on malfunction clearances during short-range confrontations. Departments wanted BLEA to focus more on decisionmaking and practical skills for managing dangerous incidents. The findings call into question the effectiveness of pre-service firearm and deadly force training and qualification for new officers. It is recommended that new officers receive further training in firearms from their departments. Instructor surveys were completed by 175 police instructors via mail and the department survey was completed by 116 police departments. Surveys asked instructors and departments to rank areas of instruction including general gun handling, marksmanship, combat gun handling, malfunction clearances, tactics and judgment, and shotgun training. Future research should examine other areas of pre-service training. Tables, references