1.1.1 Appoint an armorer.

1.1.2 Ensure that the armorer successfully completes a Department approved basic armorer training course of at least 40 hours.

1.1.3 Appoint and train secondary armory staff, as necessary.

1.1.4 Maintain control of the storage of privately owned firearms, ammunition and all other weapons where staff housing is provided on the institution's property.

1.2 The Chief of Security shall designate staff that are to be authorized entrance to the armory and provide the list to the armorer who shall:

1.1 Establish and maintain a system of checks and standards to ensure that firearms are maintained and in functional condition.

1.2 Conduct regularly scheduled maintenance and safety inspections of firearms to include a wipe down and cleaning, inspecting for unauthorized alterations, and lubricating as necessary.

1.3 Inspect firearms, using the Firearms Serviceability Checklist, Form 716-2, and manufacturer and owner manuals, to ensure that they have not been altered in any way that may cause the firearm to be unsafe prior to issuing the weapon for use.

1.3.1 Any discrepancies found during the inspection shall be noted on the Firearms Serviceability Checklist.

1.3.2 The inspection shall be documented on the Firearms Serviceability Inventory, Form 716-5.

1.4 Ensure that Department owned firearms are not altered from factory configurations by any person without written authorization from the Director.

1.4.1 Employees other than the assigned armorer shall not repair, adjust, alter or work on Department owned firearms.

1.4.2 Certified Firearms Instructors may adjust weapon sights during firearms qualification activities.

1.5 Remove any malfunctioning or defective firearm or equipment from service and ensure that repairs are completed.

1.5.1 Any firearm that requires repair or is in any way unsafe shall not be issued.

1.5.2 Firearms that require major repairs or adjustments shall be returned to the factory for warranty service or repair at the Department’s expense.

1.6 Inspect and test-fire all new and repaired firearms prior to placing them in service.

1.7 Ensure all permanently issued weapons are inspected yearly, and documented on the Firearms Serviceability Inventory.

1.8 Clean and maintain all firearms and equipment assigned to the armory, including those stored at remote locations, such as DART.

1.9 Ensure that all damaged or malfunctioning ammunition is removed from stock, labeled and properly secured pending disposition as authorized by the Warden or Deputy Warden, and as specified by the manufacturer. The appropriate vender shall be notified of each malfunction through the purchasing Unit.

1.10 Store all chemical firearms and agents in a separate, safe and secure location within the armory. Unsafe or outdated chemical agent(s) shall be disposed of as outlined in section 716.05 of this Department Order.

1.11 Complete an accurate inventory of all assigned firearms, operational ammunition, chemical agents and other equipment, at the beginning and end of each shift, and document the inventory on a Daily Armory Inventory, Form 716-3.

1.11.1 Ammunition shall be stored by type.

1.11.2 Ammunition shall be rotated for use in training prior to being outdated.

1.11.3 Training ammunition shall be inventoried daily.

1.11.3.1 Whenever the ammunition locker security seal is broken by persons other than the armorer, the ammunition shall be inventoried and documented on a Daily Armory Inventory form prior to resealing the locker. The person conducting the inventory shall print and sign their name on the form and complete an Information Report.

1.11.3.2 The armorer at COTA shall conduct weekly ammunition inventories.

1.11.4 Reserve/Back-up Inventory ammunition shall be inventoried quarterly or whenever the security seal is broken on the ammunition locker.

1.12 Submit a monthly report to the Chief of Security which identifies:

1.12.1 Firearms that have been inspected in accordance with section 716.02, 1.3 through 1.3.2.

1.12.2 Malfunctioning or disabled firearms.

1.12.3 Repairs that have been completed on firearms.

1.1.1 Armory equipment shall be issued only to authorized personnel presenting proper Department identification.

1.1.2 Firearms and ammunition shall be issued only to authorized personnel presenting proper Department identification and a current Firearms Qualification Card, Form 510-2.

1.2 Armorers and designated trained staff assigned to issue weapons shall:

1.2.1 Conduct a safety check of each firearm when it is returned from duty and document the inspection on the Daily Firearm Check-In Safety List, Form 716-4.

1.2.2 Exchange all firearms and ammunition assigned to 24-hour posts each month.

1.2.3 Immediately inspect and, if necessary, replace any firearm or ammunition reported to be damaged or malfunctioning, as outlined in 716.02, 1.3 through 1.3.2.

1.3 All Armory maintenance records shall be filed in the Armory in compliance with the Department's record retention schedule.

1.4 All chemical agents including individual hand held aerosol chemical agents, shall be issued from the Institutional Armory and logged on the Equipment/Issue Return Log, Form 716-1. Staff shall:

1.4.1 Return outdated and/or unsafe chemical agents to the Armory for an exchange.

1.4.2 Return all individual issued chemical agents to the armorer upon ending their assignment at the Institution.

716.04 DART - WEAPONS, MUNITIONS AND EQUIPMENT - RESTRICTED

716.05 CELL EXTRACTION - WEAPONS, MUNITIONS AND EQUIPMENT - RESTRICTED