California Law Enforcement Qualification Targets — The Complete Guide
California law enforcement agencies operate under some of the most rigorous training and qualification standards in the country. From the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to individual department policies, California officers must demonstrate consistent marksmanship proficiency across a range of qualification formats — and the targets they train and qualify with are a critical part of that process.
Alco Target Company has been supplying professional shooting targets to California law enforcement agencies since 1964 — including LAPD, Beverly Hills PD, Santa Monica PD, Ontario PD, West Covina PD, Glendale PD, and dozens of others throughout Southern California and beyond. This guide covers everything California law enforcement agencies, range officers, and training coordinators need to know about qualification targets — including which formats are most commonly used, what the specifications are, and where to get them.
Family owned and operated in Duarte, California. Official NRA licensed target supplier. Custom department-specific targets available. Wholesale and bulk pricing for agencies. Call 626-358-4814 or shop at alcotarget.com
California POST Firearms Qualification: What the Standards Actually Require
The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) sets the minimum training
standards for peace officers across the state. Understanding how those standards work — and where
individual departments take over — explains why California agencies use such a wide variety of
qualification targets, and why choosing the right format matters.
The Perishable Skills Program: ongoing firearms training every two years
Since January 1, 2002, POST’s Perishable Skills Program (PSP) has required in-service training for peace
officers below middle management who are assigned to patrol, traffic, or investigation and routinely make
physical arrests. Following the Commission’s June 2021 update, the PSP now requires a minimum of 18
hours of training in each two-year cycle, spread across five mandated areas: Tactical Firearms (minimum 4
hours), Arrest and Control (minimum 4 hours), Driver Training/Awareness (minimum 4 hours), Use of
Force/De-Escalation (minimum 4 hours, added in 2021), and Strategic Communications (minimum 2
hours).
The Tactical Firearms block is live-fire, hands-on training — not a classroom refresher. POST-certified PSP
firearms courses must cover fundamentals of marksmanship, safe drawing and presentation, threat
assessment and identification, target recognition and analysis, shot placement and combat effectiveness,
malfunction clearing, and speed and accuracy under stress and movement. Every one of those blocks
happens on a range, on targets — which is why a department running PSP courses burns through
hundreds of silhouettes, precision targets, and decision-making targets every cycle.
Where POST stops and your department takes over
Here is the part that surprises people: POST sets the training framework, but it does not dictate a single
statewide qualification course of fire or a single mandatory target. Qualification frequency, minimum
passing scores, courses of fire, and target formats are set by each agency’s own policy — many California
departments qualify officers quarterly or semi-annually, and several run different courses for duty pistol,
patrol rifle, and off-duty weapons.
That local control is exactly why California’s qualification target landscape is so varied. One agency
qualifies on the classic B-27 silhouette https://alcotarget.com/blog/what-is-the-b27-target; a neighboring
department uses the TQ-15 gray silhouette [https://alcotarget.com/pistol-rifle-paper-training-targets/nra-official-paper-targets]; a third has its own department-specific format designed around its course of fire — like the department targets Alco
produces for Santa Monica PD, Beverly Hills PD, Glendale PD, Riverside PD, and other agencies across the
state https://alcotarget.com/pistol-rifle-paper-shooting-targets/law-enforcement-custom-targets. Alco Target has been printing for California
courses of fire since 1964, which is why our catalog carries the full spread: standard silhouettes, reduceddistance variants for indoor ranges, and true department-specific formats.
PC 832: where every California officer starts
Before any of the in-service requirements apply, every California peace officer must complete the Penal
Code 832 Arrest and Firearms course — the entry-level POST requirement that includes live-fire firearms
training and qualification. Academies and PC 832 course presenters are steady users of standard
silhouette and bullseye formats, and Alco supplies training programs as well as working agencies https://alcotarget.com/law-enforcement-training-targets.
The Most Common California Law Enforcement Qualification Targets
B-27 — The Standard California LE Qualification Silhouette
The B-27 is the most widely used law enforcement qualification silhouette in California and across the United States. An officially licensed NRA target measuring 24" x 45", the B-27 features the classic human upper body silhouette with scoring zones 7 through 10 and X ring — the universal standard for pistol qualification at 50 yards.
California agencies running B-27 based qualification courses have access to the complete B-27 family at Alco Target — including the standard full-size format, reduced distance variants, color variants, California-specific formats, and repair centers.
| SKU | Format | Size | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-27 | Standard Full Size | 24" x 45" | Standard 50-yard qualification |
| B-27E | Reduced — 50-yard format | 22.5" x 35" | Ranges without full 50-yard distance |
| B-27/75 | 25-yard reduction | 21" x 35" | 25-yard qualification courses |
| B-27/50 | 50-foot reduction | 18" x 30" | Indoor ranges and short-distance training |
| B-27 TR | California Combat Team Score 5-3 | 24" x 45" | California LE team combat qualification |
| B-27 CDB | Cardboard format | 24" x 45" | CDCR, high-volume ranges |
| B-27 RC | Repair Center | 18.5" x 12" | Extend target life between qualifications |
California Combat Team Score — B-27 TR
The B-27 TR is a California-specific qualification format featuring the Combat Team Score 5-3 Silhouette — the standard used by California law enforcement agencies running team combat qualification courses. At 24" x 45" it is a full-size format used at the standard 50-yard qualification distance. This is a California-specific target that Alco Target has been producing for California agencies for decades.
RED DOT Police Training Program — California's Premier Training Target System
The RED DOT Police Training Program is Alco Target's proprietary law enforcement training target system — developed specifically for California law enforcement agencies and now trusted by departments throughout the state. The RED DOT program features the BT-5 silhouette family in over 40 variants, covering every training format, color, department specification, and distance reduction that California agencies need.
What Makes the RED DOT Program Different
Standard qualification targets test whether an officer can hit a silhouette. The RED DOT targets are designed to build the specific skills that California officers need in the field — including center mass precision, head shot capability, reduced silhouette engagement, and hostage scenario decision-making.
| SKU | Format | Size | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| BT-5 | Standard black silhouette | 18" x 24" | Black |
| BT-5S | Shaded silhouette | 18" x 24" | Black shaded |
| BT-5R | Reverse anatomy | 18" x 24" | Black |
| BT-5SO | Shaded orange | 18" x 24" | Orange |
| BT-5 O | All orange | 18" x 24" | Orange |
| BT-5H/2 | Hostage — orange/black | 18" x 24" | Orange/Black |
| BT-5 SB3 RPD | Riverside PD blue | 18" x 24" | Blue |
| BT-5 SB3 RPD Pink | Riverside PD pink | 18" x 24" | Pink |
| BT-5SG RPD | Riverside PD green | 18" x 24" | Green |
| BT-5S BHPD | Beverly Hills PD | 18" x 24" | Black shaded |
| BT-5S EPD SD350 | El Paso PD SD350 | 18" x 24" | Black shaded |
| BT-5S GPD | Glendale PD T-bar | 18" x 24" | Black shaded |
| BT-5 OPD SWAT | Ontario PD SWAT | 22.5" x 35" | Black |
| BT-5 LAX PB | LAX silhouette | 18" x 24" | Black |
Department-Specific California Law Enforcement Targets
One of Alco Target's most important capabilities is producing department-specific qualification and training targets for individual California agencies. These custom formats are designed to the exact specifications of the requesting department — giving training coordinators and range officers a target that reflects their agency's specific qualification standards.
Santa Monica Police Department
Alco Target produces multiple SMPD-specific targets including:
- B-27 SMPD — Official SMPD training silhouette at 22.5" x 35"
- TQ SMPD — Santa Monica PD weapons training target at 14" x 24"
- SMPD S Sniper — SMPD sniper target with frontal and side silhouettes, head and heart target areas, and sighter boxes at 22.5" x 35" — $45.00
- SMPD CMD — 20 multi-colored 3" circle precision drill target developed for SMPD at 20" x 24" — $40.00
Beverly Hills Police Department
- BT-5 BHPD — Beverly Hills PD training silhouette
- BT-5 BHPD 2 — BHPD variant 2
- BT-5 BHPD 2/O — BHPD variant 2 orange
- BT-5 BHPD 2 Mini — BHPD mini format — $25.00
- BT-5S BHPD — BHPD shaded silhouette
- BT-5S BHPD Mini — BHPD shaded mini — $35.00
- BT-5S BHPD Case — BHPD shaded case of 500 — $125.00
Glendale Police Department
- BT-5S GPD — Glendale PD T-bar head shot training target at 18" x 24" — $33.00
Ontario Police Department
- BT-5 OPD SWAT — Ontario PD SWAT training target at 22.5" x 35" — $50.00
West Covina Police Department
- RTE #3 WCPD — West Covina PD realistic tactical encounter qualification target at 22.5" x 35"
Riverside Police Department
- BT-5 SB3 RPD Blue — Riverside PD blue training target
- BT-5 SB3 RPD Pink — Riverside PD pink training target — $40.00
- BT-5SG RPD Green — Riverside PD green training target — $37.00
- BT-5S RPD Black — Riverside PD black training target — $33.00
- BT-5SO RPD Orange — Riverside PD orange training target
San Diego Area Agencies
- BT-5R SDPD — San Diego PD reverse anatomy training target
- BT-5R SDPD/2 — SDPD reverse anatomy variant 2
- BT-5R SD White — San Diego white reverse target — $33.00
- BT-5R SDPD White — SDPD white reverse target — $33.00
Federal Agency Qualification Targets Available in California
California is home to a large number of federal law enforcement personnel — from FBI and US Marshals to CBP, ATF, DEA, and US Treasury agents. Alco Target supplies the complete lineup of federal qualification targets to California-based federal agencies and training facilities.
| SKU | Format | Agency | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FBI QIT | Center mass with two sighters | FBI | 22.5" x 35" | $45.00 |
| FBI QIT 03 | Bottle outline center mass | FBI | 22.5" x 35" | $45.00 |
| Q Target | FBI-Q black silhouette | FBI | 20" x 32" | $46.00 |
| Q Reverse | FBI-Q reverse silhouette | FBI | 20" x 32" | $46.00 |
| IALEFI Q Gray | IALEFI gray silhouette | IALEFI | 22.5" x 35" | $46.00 |
| CAT I | US Customs full size gray | US Customs/CBP | 18" x 35" | $40.00 |
| CAT II | US Customs reduced gray | US Customs/CBP | 14" x 24" | $30.00 |
| TRS II B | US Treasury blue silhouette | US Treasury | 24" x 36" | $50.00 |
| TRS II G | US Treasury green silhouette | US Treasury | 24" x 36" | $54.00 |
| TRS I B | US Treasury blue reduced | US Treasury | 14" x 24" | $24.00 |
| TRS I G | US Treasury green reduced | US Treasury | 14" x 24" | $24.00 |
NRA Official Targets for California LE Qualification
Many California law enforcement qualification courses are built around NRA licensed target formats. Alco Target is an officially licensed NRA target supplier — every NRA target we produce carries the official NRA license number and is printed on NRA approved paper that creates clean, precise bullet holes for accurate qualification scoring.
| SKU | Format | Size | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TQ-15 | 25-yard gray police silhouette | 22.5" x 35" | Standard LE qualification |
| TQ-15E | Economy TQ-15 | 22.5" x 35" | High-volume training |
| TQ-16 | 50-foot reduction of TQ-15 | 14" x 24" | Indoor range qualification |
| TQ-19 | Two-tone gray NRA #32 | 22.5" x 35" | Standard LE qualification |
| TQ-20 | Reduction of TQ-19 | 14" x 24" | Indoor range qualification |
| TQ-21 | NRA instructor training gray | 22.5" x 35" | Instructor qualification |
| TQ-22 | Reduction of TQ-21 | 14" x 24" | Indoor instructor qualification |
| TQ SMPD | Santa Monica PD | 14" x 24" | SMPD weapons training |
| TQ M/50G | Green silhouette | 18" x 24" | Color rotation training |
Long Beach Law Enforcement Targets
Alco Target has a long-standing relationship with Long Beach law enforcement agencies — producing department-specific targets for LBPD and LBPD SWAT for decades.
- LB SST — Long Beach SWAT Standards IPSC style target at 18" x 30" — $45.00
- LB Custom 6 Color — Long Beach custom 6-color training target at 21" x 35" — $50.00. Available in 6 different colors for training variety and aiming point memorization prevention.
Tactical Encounter and Scenario Training Targets
California law enforcement training increasingly emphasizes scenario-based and decision-making training — preparing officers for the complex real-world encounters they face in the field. Alco Target's Realistic Tactical Encounter (RTE) series and Tactical Encounter (TE) series are specifically designed for this type of advanced training.
RTE — Realistic Tactical Encounter Series
| SKU | Scenario | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTE #1 | Two men and a Bronco | 22.5" x 35" | Check site |
| RTE #2 | Hooded hostage | 22.5" x 35" | $50.00 |
| RTE #3 | Lone hooded shooter | 22.5" x 35" | Check site |
| RTE #3 WCPD | West Covina PD version | 22.5" x 35" | Check site |
| RTE #5 | Suspect behind ATV | 22.5" x 35" | $50.00 |
| RTE #7 | Kneeling hostage | 22.5" x 35" | Check site |
| Sniper Joe | Kneeling SWAT — LAPD origin | 22.5" x 35" | Check site |
Realistic Overlay Targets
The Overlay series adds a critical dimension to scenario training — requiring officers to identify what a subject is holding before making an engagement decision. Available in 11 variants:
- O-1 — ID Card
- O-2 — Firearm/Gun
- O-3 — Camera (ambiguous threat)
- O-4 — Knife/Edged weapon
- O-5 — Hands
- O-6 — Molotov Cocktail
- O-7 — Binoculars
- O-8 — Shotgun
- O-9 — Bottle (ambiguous threat)
- O-10 — Revolver
- O-11 — Badge (no-shoot)
SMPD Sniper and Precision Training Targets
For California SWAT teams, sniper units, and precision rifle training programs, Alco Target produces specialized targets that go beyond standard qualification silhouettes.
- SMPD S Sniper (SKU: SMPD S) — $45.00 — Santa Monica PD sniper training target featuring frontal and side silhouettes with head and heart target zones and built-in sighter/target boxes for structured accuracy drills. The most comprehensive sniper training target in the Alco lineup at 22.5" x 35".
- SMPD CMD (SKU: SMPD CMD) — $40.00 — 20 multi-colored 3" circles on a 20" x 24" sheet. Developed for SMPD for precision drills that develop rapid target acquisition, color recognition under stress, and precise small-zone accuracy. Instructors can call colors or sequences for dynamic, engaging training sessions.
- Sniper Joe — Kneeling SWAT training target originally developed as an LAPD SWAT target. 22.5" x 35", NRA Silhouette score 10-7.
Bulk and Wholesale Pricing for California Agencies
Alco Target offers wholesale and bulk pricing for California law enforcement agencies, training academies, shooting ranges, and gun clubs. Most paper targets are sold in packs of 100 — with freight truck delivery available for large quantity orders.
626-358-4814
✉ alcotargets@earthlink.net
www.alcotarget.com
2048 Central Avenue, Duarte, California 91010
Hours: Monday — Friday, 8:00am — 4:30pm
Why California Law Enforcement Agencies Choose Alco Target
- Made in California — every target is printed at our Duarte, California facility — keeping it local and supporting California manufacturing
- NRA Official Licensed — all NRA targets are officially licensed and printed on NRA approved paper
- 60+ years serving California LE — since 1964, trusted by LAPD, Beverly Hills PD, Santa Monica PD, Ontario PD, Glendale PD, West Covina PD, and dozens more
- Custom department targets — we produce department-specific qualification targets to your exact specifications
- Complete target family — full size, reduced, color variants, repair centers, tactical encounter, overlay, and specialty formats all available
- Wholesale pricing — bulk and case quantity pricing for agencies and ranges
- Fast shipping — most orders ship same day or next business day from Duarte
- Family owned — you're dealing with the owner, not a call center
California Law Enforcement Qualification Targets — FAQ
What targets are used for California POST qualification?
There is no single statewide POST qualification target. POST sets minimum training standards, and each
California agency sets its own course of fire and target format. The most common choices are the B-27
silhouette family, the NRA TQ series (TQ-15, TQ-19, TQ-21 and their indoor reductions), and departmentspecific formats designed for an individual agency’s course of fire. Alco Target manufactures all three categories in Duarte, California.
How often do California police officers qualify with their firearms?
Qualification frequency is set by each department’s policy — quarterly and semi-annual schedules are
both common. Separately, POST’s Perishable Skills Program requires at least 4 hours of tactical firearms
training within every two-year cycle as part of an 18-hour in-service minimum.
What is the POST Perishable Skills Program?
The Perishable Skills Program (PSP) is California POST’s in-service training requirement, in effect since
2002. Officers below middle management assigned to patrol, traffic, or investigation must complete a
minimum of 18 hours every two years across five areas: tactical firearms, arrest and control, driver
training/awareness, use of force/de-escalation, and strategic communications.
What size is the B-27 target?
The standard B-27 measures 24″ x 45″ and is scored with rings 7 through 10 plus the X ring. Reduced
formats simulate the full-size target at shorter distances — the B-27E (22.5″ x 35″), the B-27/75 25-yard
reduction (21″ x 35″), and the B-27/50 50-foot reduction (18″ x 30″) for indoor ranges. https://alcotarget.com/b-27-red-dot-police-training-program-target
What is the difference between the B-27 and the TQ-15?
Both are law-enforcement qualification silhouettes, but the B-27 is a black silhouette with traditional
numbered scoring rings, while the TQ-15 is a gray silhouette scored on a simpler hit-zone system, designed to avoid the aiming-point memorization that high-contrast rings can create. Which one an agency uses
comes down to its course of fire and policy — Alco prints both under official NRA license.
Can our department order custom qualification targets?
Yes. Alco Target designs and prints department-specific qualification and training targets to your exact
specifications — the same in-house custom work we’ve done for LAPD, Santa Monica PD, Beverly Hills PD,
Ontario PD, and other California agencies. Call 626-358-4814 to discuss your course of fire, or visit our
custom law enforcement targets page. https://alcotarget.com/pistol-rifle-paper-shooting-targets/law-enforcement-custom-targets
Do you offer wholesale pricing for agencies and academies?
Yes — wholesale and bulk pricing is available for law enforcement agencies, training academies, ranges,
and clubs, with most paper targets sold in packs of 100 and freight delivery available for large orders.
https://alcotarget.com/wholesale
Shop California Law Enforcement Qualification Targets
Browse our complete catalog of California law enforcement qualification targets at alcotarget.com — or call us directly at 626-358-4814 to speak with our team about your agency's specific target requirements, wholesale pricing, and custom target production.
✅ RED DOT Police Training Program — 40+ BT-5 variants
✅ Department-Specific Targets — LAPD, BHPD, SMPD, GPD, OPD, WCPD, RPD, SDPD, LBPD
✅ Federal Qualification Targets — FBI, US Customs, US Treasury, IALEFI
✅ NRA Official Licensed Targets — TQ series, B-27 family
✅ Tactical Encounter and Scenario Targets — RTE and TE series
✅ Realistic Overlay Targets — 11 variants
✅ SWAT and Sniper Specialty Targets
✅ Wholesale and bulk pricing available
✅ Made in the USA — Duarte, California
About Alco Target Company
Alco Target Company is a family-owned shooting target manufacturer based in Duarte, California. Founded in 1964 by Long Beach Police Officer Al Evanson and purchased in 1985 by Wayne Semain, Alco Target has been producing professional-grade paper, cardboard, and steel shooting targets for over 60 years. We are an officially licensed NRA, USPSA, IPSC, and IDPA target supplier serving law enforcement agencies, military training programs, shooting ranges, and competitive shooters nationwide.
2048 Central Avenue, Duarte, California 91010
Monday — Friday 8:00am — 4:30pm