First time at the National Police Shooting Championships for Texas Sheriff's Team

Albuquerque, New Mexico - If you walk the line here at NRA's National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque, you'll find a good mixture of seasoned and novice competitors. Law Enforcement officers from near and far that have traveled a few hours or a few days just for a chance at the title. Or, if you're like Tom Curran of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, you're here for the experience.

"Our Sheriff, James Wilson, was a big shooter for many years," explained Curran. "He thought we could learn a few things and decided to send us."

More on the Texas team at NRA's Police Championships in New Mexico...

Albuquerque, New Mexico - At NRA's Tactical Police Competitions in Albuquerque, some of the courses call for shotguns, some rifles and others only pistols. But Stage One at the weekend's event called for all three.

More on stage one at NRA's Tactical Police Competition in New Mexico...

Top shooters in Tactical and Patrol Divisions recognized at NRA Tactical Police Competition

Albuquerque, New Mexico - NRA's 2012 New Mexico Tactical Police Competition wrapped up late last night after the last shooters made it off the range. Two days and almost two hundred competitors meant the win wasn't going to be easy. As the saying goes, anything worth while isn't supposed to be easy. That's why we hold these competitions. After all, it's not as if the bad guys are going to go easy on the streets.

Stepping in as a special guest presenter was National Police Shooting Championship favorite R. Lee Ermey. That meant something special for a number of competitors.

More on NRA's Tactical Police Competition awards in New Mexico...

Hollywood star and NRA Board Member R. Lee Ermey arrives at Police Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Fresh of the plane, Gunny R. Lee Ermey made his way out to Albuquerque's Shooting Range Park to catch the last stage of NRA's Tactical Police Competition. Prior to the final shooter running the course, NRA Range Officer (RO) Mike Lane walked the Gunny through the stage.

More on R. Lee Ermey's visit to NRA's Tactical Competition in Albuquerque ...

NRA's "Shield Up" course at the New Mexico Tactical Police Competition has competitors going in blind

Albuquerque, New Mexico - The Tactical Police Competition stage that everyone is talking about is the blind stage. Called "Shield Up", competitors are placed outside faux structure with firearm and shield in hand. And unlike the other courses ... there is no walk through.

"Had no idea what to expect," said Rich from New Mexico. "The only thing we knew for sure was that there were twelve targets. But after the first three or four, it's easy to lose count."

More on NRA's blind stage in the New Mexico tactical police competition ...

Shooting Range Park in Albuquerque welcomes shooters to the NRA's 2012 Police Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - The City of Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Police Department and the Shooting Range Park are the host for this year's NRA National Police Shooting Championships (NPSC). Serving as such for the past few years, the Shooting Range Park boasts more than firing points on this immaculate range.

More on NRA's welcome to the National Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico...

With Duty Rifle at the ready, law enforcement professions take on NRA's Tactical Police Competition in New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico - If the barrel on your rifle isn't hot enough, then you haven't run through NRA's Tactical Police Competition's second course. Titled Making a Barrel Hot, the course asks you to dive in the dirt, run in the sand and take on 21 targets at Albuquerque's Shooting Range Park.

Retired Cook County Sheriff's Sergeant takes part in 15th NRA National Police Shooting Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - It's been fifteens years for Jerry Porch. Fifteen years of making the trip from Chicago to compete in the NRA's National Police Shooting Championships. That's a long way to go for a retired Cook County Sheriff's Department Sergeant.

"I was a supervisor in charge of transporting inmates to the eight different court facilities in Cook County," explained Porch. "We transported more than 1,000 inmates a day to doctor's appointments, courts appearances – anything."

More on Jerry Porch's time at the National Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico...

Open to New Mexico Law Enforcement only, the Challenge introduces unclassified competitors to the shooting sports

Albuquerque, New Mexico - NRA Law Enforcement started the New Mexico Challenge a few years ago to welcome new competitors into the world of shooting sports. Held just prior to the National Police Shooting Championships, the Challenge is open only non-classified New Mexico shooters, the hope is that they enjoy the thrill of competition so much that they driven to more. As they like to say, trigger time is training time.

More on the New Mexico Challenge ...