A national survey, conducted by the National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association (NLEFIA), began in early 2019 after questions about officer-involved shooting (OIS) statistics arose during the initial sessions of the NLEFIA Red Dot Sights for Duty Pistols instructor development course.
At the time, the use of red dot sights (RDS) on duty pistols was a relatively new concept in law enforcement, and its viability was still uncertain. The survey aimed to collect early OIS data involving pistol-mounted RDS to help firearms instructors and agencies evaluate whether to authorize their use.
The survey concluded on December 31, 2024, after nearly five years of data collection. By the survey’s close, it was clear that red dot sights had gained widespread acceptance across the nation’s law enforcement agencies. As such, the survey was deemed no longer necessary, though the data collected remains accessible for those seeking insight.
During the survey period, 35 incidents involving RDS-equipped pistols were recorded. While many more incidents likely occurred, they were not reported for various reasons, such as agencies being unaware of the survey or delaying submissions until incidents had cleared legal reviews or proceedings. Despite the limited sample size, the data offers valuable insights, particularly regarding hit ratios (rounds fired vs. rounds hitting the target) and the amount of training officers received before the incidents.
All 35 incidents occurred on duty; no off-duty incidents were reported. However, several variables that could have influenced the outcomes — such as officer experience, agency training quality and environmental factors — were not captured in the survey.
The survey maintained a narrow focus on the equipment used, pre-incident training and incident performance with pistol-mounted optics. Its findings underscore the growing importance of RDS in modern law enforcement practices.
The full survey summary is available for download on the NLEFIA website at nlefia.org and is also featured below. For questions regarding this summary, contact NLEFIA at office@nlefia.org.
