Law enforcement snipers should be judged on reliable performance with issued rifles and realistic conditions rather than competition scores. A proposed starting benchmark is a 3-minute-of-angle target zone out to 600 yards, equal to about 18.8 inches at that range and near an 18-inch IPSC target, while the longest documented law enforcement sniper engagement occurred just inside 600 yards. Competition can improve technical skills but does not establish operational readiness amid uncertainty and legal duties. Passing qualification shows only that a defined minimum was met. Landen Jones, a former U.S. Army sniper team leader who now serves as a Pacific Northwest deputy, SWAT sniper team leader, and Modern Day Sniper law enforcement program director, stated agencies must independently validate standards based on their equipment, policies, and mission needs.