California Law Enforcement Qualification Targets — The Complete Guide

Published by Alco Target Company  |  alcotarget.com  |  626-358-4814  |  Duarte, California

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.

California POST Firearms Qualification Overview

The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) sets minimum standards for law enforcement firearms training across the state. Under POST regulations, officers must complete a minimum number of training hours and demonstrate proficiency through structured qualification courses.

While POST sets minimum standards, individual departments often establish their own more rigorous qualification requirements — including specific target formats, minimum scores, and qualification frequency. This means California law enforcement target needs vary significantly from agency to agency, which is why Alco Target maintains one of the most comprehensive lineups of law enforcement qualification targets in the state.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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