Michigan Police Shoot History

The first Michigan Police Shoot was held on September 20, 1928, at the Michigan State Police Headquarters in East Lansing.  There were a total of 81 shooters, 22 teams, and 15 agencies represented.  The event was so well received that a committee was formed and the Michigan Police Shoot became an annual event.  The first committee members were Capt. John C. Cleghorn, Michigan State Police; Capt. Walder Anderson, Flint Police Department; Mallery Kincaid, Grand Rapids Police Department; Chief William Sheffler, Port Huron Police Department; Sgt. Max B. Wendlandt, Detroit Police Department; Chief Floyd Alspaugh, Pontiac Police Department; and Sheriff Hugh Silsby, Ingham County Sheriff's Office.  The purpose of the shoot was to encourage marksmanship among the peace officers of Michigan.

In 1931 the "Michigan State Police Pistol Tournament" was held as a formal dedication to the new pistol range, which later became the "Cleghorn Pistol Range," at the Michigan State Police Headquarters in East Lansing.  This shoot in effect became the first annual "Michigan Police Shoot" and would continue annually until the year 1942. The 1931 event hosted more than 200 shooters and was conducted under the direction of Capt. John C. Cleghorn.  Awards were presented to the highest scoring five-man team, three-man team, novice team, and individual shooter.  There were also awards given to the highest aggregate score, slow fire score, rapid fire score, timed fire score, silhouette score, and novice score.  The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police sponsored the "Chiefs' Match," which was won by MSP's Capt. Donald S. Leonard. 

 During the years of 1942 through 1948 the Michigan Police Shoot was not conducted due to World War II and the shortage of ammunition, gasoline, vehicles and personnel.  In 1949 the Michigan Police Shoot was revived and moved from the Cleghorn Pistol Range in East Lansing to the Jackson City Police pistol range in Jackson, and has been held there annually ever since.  Starting in 1949 the event was hosted by the Jackson City Police, and continued to be sponsored by the Michigan State Police in cooperation with the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) and the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.  Also beginning in 1949, the Governor's trophy was awarded in each of four classes of competition.  Governor G. Mennen Williams personally presented each trophy, along with the other awards for the shoot. 

In 1964, the MACP became the official sponsors of the Michigan Police Shoot, and still are to this day.  Also at the 1964 shoot, the Jackson City Police pistol range was dedicated to Roscoe V. Gray, retired Jackson police chief, who for many years had been a host and tournament committee member for the Michigan Police Shoot.

The year 2003 brought the 66th Michigan Police Shoot, where 228 shooters, 36 agencies and 57 teams competed.  The shoot has grown to include team matches for six different team classifications (from Class AA to Class E), the Chiefs' Match, Female Match, Retirees Match, Sheriff's Deputy Match, High Corrections Team, and College Team Match; individual awards such as Grand Aggregate, Slow Fire, Timed Fire and Rapid Fire; other individual awards such as High Aggregates for each of the six team classifications (Class AA to Class E) and High Corrections  Officer.