Sgt. Jason Longley of the Waterville Police Department is the recipient of the 2016 Willard “Bill” Shirley Firearms Proficiency Award for achieving the highest aggregate scores for spring and fall qualifications in both pistol and rifle, according to a news release from the department.
Longley was hired in 2010 as a patrol officer and was promoted to sergeant in 2016. He also is a department firearms instructor.
The award is named in honor and memory of Officer Bill Shirley who served the department and the community from July 1966 until his retirement in April 1992.
The department recognizes and presents an award to the officer that scores the highest aggregate scores from its spring and fall pistol and rifle qualifications each year.
For much of his career, Shirley was the primary firearms instructor, teaching officers the tactics and techniques that are a must for officer survival, according to the release. He was always evaluating the validity of new tactics and techniques to ensure that Waterville Police Department officers would master the firearms proficiency skills needed to survive in armed confrontations.
For several years, Shirley reloaded all department ammunition used for department firearms training. He was insistent that every officer master the basics skills of how to shoot, reload, and clear malfunctions before he would give them a qualifying score, according to the release.
Shirley was a competitive shooter and was a member of the NRA Police Pistol Combat Competition Course and the International Police Combat Pistol Association. He competed in shooting tournaments in Maine and Canada, reaching the level of Master Shooter. Shirley achieved top honors in many shooting events including the state of Maine Combat Pistol Championship events held throughout Maine. In one event, he shot an incredible 1,454 out of a possible 1500 points, according to the release.
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