Published: August 18, 2008 12:00 am            

Norman police excel at pistol match

The Norman Police Department Pistol Team demonstrated top levels of marksmanship during the Dale DeBerry Memorial Regional and Oklahoma State Championships in Police Pistol Combat Competition, conducted at the police firing range Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Fifty-six current and former law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies in Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Colorado, California and Puerto Rico participated in the event.

The Police Pistol Combat matches involve shooting for accuracy from distances of 3, 7, 15, 25 and 50 yards under various time limits and shooting positions.

This year 10 members of the Norman Police Department's Pistol Team achieved excellence in competition by securing multiple first and second place finishes within their classifications. Those members included Det. Chris Amason with three 2nd place finishes; Master Police Officer Josh Barker with two 1st and two 2nd place finishes; MPO Brent Barbour with one 2nd place finish; MPO Will Crews with six 1st and two 2nd place finishes; Lt. Blake Green with two 1st place finishes; PO Derrick Hopkins with seven 1st and one 2nd place finish; Det. David King with one 1st and four 2nd place finishes; Lt. Eric Lehenbauer with seven 1st and one 2nd place finish; and MPO Robert Wasoski with four 1st and five 2nd place finishes.

The Governor's Twenty Program recognizes the top 20 competitors from Oklahoma that competed in the Oklahoma State PPC Championship. The Norman Police Pistol Team had seven members earn this recognition: Lehenbauer, Crews, Green, Amason, Barker, Barbour and King. Retired Officer Harold Nicholson also earned a position on the Governor's Twenty.

The Police Pistol Combat Competitions, PPC, are an extension of the police officer's training. The National Rifle Association created PPC competitions in 1960 with the intent of providing police officers with a competitive program that would improve police skill and competence in the use of firearms.

        

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