STATISTICS ON POLICE FATALITIES ARE EXAMINED TO ILLUSTRATE THAT MOST POLICE FIREARMS TRAINING DOES NOT PREPARE OFFICERS TO FACE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. INSTEAD OF STANDARD FIRING RANGE TRAINING, THE AUTHOR PROPOSES THE USE OF A COMBAT-STYLE COURSE WHICH SIMULATES POLICE WORK SITUATIONS. ONE SUCH COURSE, DEVELOPED IN SANTA MONICA, HAS THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: CLOSE RANGE FIRING, POOR LIGHT, VIDEO AND AUDITORY DISTRACTIONS, AND PHYSICAL STRESS. OFFICERS USE LIVE AMMUNITION AND FIRE AT SILHOUETTE TARGETS. USING THIS 'REAL-LIFE' COURSE, OFFICERS' COMBAT SHOOTING ABILITY WAS FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT. THE AUTHOR URGES THAT PISTOL COURSES SUCH AS THIS BE USED TO REDUCE OFFICER DEATHS IN SHOOTING INCIDENTS.