Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-10
OFFICERS PROVE
POOR MARKSMEN
LOW SCORES ARE MADE AT
TARGET PRACTICE
ONE BULLET STRIKES BOARD IN
FIRST BOUNCE
Civil Service Examinations for Ser
qeants and Lieutenants Ambitious
for Promotion Held at Bishop
Street Range

Sergeant Willard Smith made the
highest score at the police target range
on Bishop street, where three police
lieutenants and twelve police sergeants
assembled yesterday to take the civil
service examination for their efficiency
as rnarI<smen. Sergeant Smith made a
total of 81. Sergeant Tyler took sec
ond place with a score of 81, and Ser
geant Heath totaled 70. Lieutenant
Lehnhausen took fourth place with
score of 26, Sergeant Sebastian came
fifth with score of II, and the other
scores ranged from 10 down to nothing.
The target shooting was conducted
under the supervision of Civil Service
Examiner F. NJ. Dee, who kept the
score at the targets, and the Officers
who participated are aspirants for pro-
motion.
The test for craftsmanship was shot
at a standard American target at
distance of fifty yards. The revolver
used was long barrel, SS-caliber
Each candidate was required to shoot
ten shots in series of five, and allowed
twenty seconds for each five shots.
Chief Dishman was time keeper and
Captain Dixon kept the score at the
shooting station.
LOW OCOTSS mdGS
As result of the extremely low
scores made, ii is probable that a
standard of craftsmanship will be fixed
and that all officers will be required to
participate i'm target practice regularly
and maintain the standard so fixed.
This matter was brought up at SEES
sion of the officers school several
nights ago, and the plan was taken
under consideration.
Several amusing incidents occurred
during the shoot. One officer made a
score of six on single shot when the
bullet struck the ground several feet
in advance of the mark, glanced and
struck the target. He was allowed
this as no provisions had been made
against hitting the mark on the first
bounce.
Sergeant Adams was not so lucky in
a freak shot he made. Adams was
shooting at the left hand target, which
is three feet from the other mark. He
was in such a hurry to get his five
shots within the twenty seconds limit
that he blazed away and when the
scorer looked for the bullet mark found
that the missile had flown wide of the
left hand target and made a score of
on the right hand mark. AS the rules
provided that not more than one target
was to be shot at at one time, Adams
was not allowed to score on the shot.
Although Sergeant Dan Long put
his ten shots in close proximity to the
target he failed to even jar it, and
when the totals We're compiled large
round zero was marked opposite his
name.
Lieutenants Haupt and Murray came
near shooting a tie. The latter came
out ahead, however scoring a total OF
6 against Haupt's 5. Both shot vel
within the time limit of twenty Sec
onds, and had they taken little more
time it is thought they would have
had at least two or three more points
to their credit
Sergeants Peterson, Mcdowell and
Grogan showed that they We're friends
and made tie scores of points each.
Peterson made his first five shots in
ten seconds and his second five bullets
We're sent from his gun in nine sec
onds
Sergeant Benedict exceeded the limit
for the first five shots by one second
and came within one second of reach
ing the time limit in his second five
shots. He made a total of IS points.
Among those who fired their revolt
vers with speed but not extreme ac-
curacy was Sergeant White, who made
a grand total of points.
After the candidates for promotion
had finished shooting, Chief Dishman,
Captain Dixon and Examiner Dee sent
five bullets at the targets. Both the
chief and Dee failed to make an inn
preston on the target and their scores
were indicated by zeros, while Captain
Dixon, who fired his five shots in
fifteen seconds, made a total of 20.