Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
This specification supplements Section
1010,
1011, and
1012 of the Regulations which
provides for the issue of Basic, General, Intermediate, Advanced, Senior,
Part-time I, Part-time II and Auxiliary Certificates to law enforcement
officers meeting prescribed standards of training, education and
experience.
REQUIREMENTS
1.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) To be eligible for the award of a
certificate, each applicant must be a law enforcement officer appointed by a
law enforcement unit located within the State of Arkansas. (Refer to Regulation
1001(9))
(b) Each applicant shall
meet the Commission's prescribed minimum standards for employment established
pursuant to Regulation 1002 except those Full-time law enforcement officers who
were employed before January 1, 1978. Those persons are "grandfathered" and
exempt from meeting any selection or training requirements, provided they have
been continually employed by the same agency since December 31, 1977.
(c) Each applicant should attest that he
subscribes to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.
(d) All applications for an award of the
Basic, General, Intermediate, Advanced or Senior Certificates shall be
completed on the Form F-7, Application for Award of Law Enforcement Officer
Certificate.
(e) In addition to the
requirements set forth above for the award of a General, Intermediate, Advanced
or Senior Certificate, each applicant shall have completed the designated
education and training combined with the prescribed law enforcement
experience.
(f) Education and
training must be supported by copies of transcripts, certificates, diplomas, or
other verifying documents attached to the application. Each training document
must verify the number of classroom hours claimed.
2.
EDUCATION POINTS
(a) Each semester credit unit granted by a
college or university, approved in accordance with Specification S-8, paragraph
(a), operating on a semester schedule, shall equal one education
point.
(b) Each quarter credit unit
granted by a college or university, approved in accordance with Specification
S-8, paragraph (a), operating on a quarter schedules, shall equal .75 education
points.
3.
TRAINING POINTS
Twenty (20) classroom hours of police training approved by the
Commission shall equal one training point.
(a) Basic, Refresher, Supervisory, Middle
Management, Executive, or Specialized courses certified, sponsored, or
presented by the Commission will be acceptable for training credit.
(b) The Commission may approve departmental
or other in-service training which is recorded and documented in the personnel
files of the trainee's department. These records must confirm successful
completion and must include the date completed, course or subject title,
sponsoring agency, classroom training hours and/or college credit hours. (See
Form F-10 for sample training log form)
(c) Training completed in other states,
military police training, and other specialized training, if properly
documented and approved by the Commission as being required and/or useful to
the department, may be allowed.
(d)
With proper documentation Certified Instructors may claim course completion
credit for the first time the law enforcement class is instructed.
(e) College credits earned in law enforcement
related subjects may be counted for either training points or education points,
whichever is to the advantage of the applicant.
4.
LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE
Experience acquired as a sworn law enforcement officer employed
full-time and having statutory authority to enforce state or federal criminal,
traffic, or highway laws may be approved. Experience acquired with a police
agency whose standards are lower than minimum standards established by the
Commission will be rejected.
Law Enforcement experience claimed is subject to staff evaluation
and final approval of the Commission.
5.
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS
When determination of "eligibility of certification" of persons
defined in Act 452 of 1975, becomes necessary for establishing qualifications
to apply for, file for, or hold certain positions or elective office, as
required by laws, the following procedures shall apply:
(a) The applicant shall submit a letter to
the commission requesting voluntary participation in the certification program.
The commission also reserves the right to initiate the exploration of
eligibility.
(b) Any person
approved for certification will be required to meet the minimum standards for
employment or appointment as defined in Regulation 1002 and the training
requirements established or approved by the Commission.
(c) The acceptance of previous military
police experience will be determined on an individual basis. That experience
which is limited to the enforcement of the Uniform Code of Military Justice is
not acceptable as being the equivalent experience of a federal, state, county,
or municipal law enforcement officer who enforces the criminal, traffic, or
highway laws of the Federal Government or a state.
6.
THE BASIC CERTIFICATE
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section
1 of this specification, the
following are required for the award of the Basic Certificate:
(a) Shall have completed a probationary
period of not less than twelve (12) months with his present department. (Refer
to Regulation 1003)
(b) Shall have
successfully completed the required Basic Police Training Course (Refer to
Specification S-9) or the equivalent as determined by the Commission.
7.
THE GENERAL
CERTIFICATE
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section
1 of this specification, the
following are required for the award of the General Certificate:
(a) Shall possess the Basic
Certificate.
(b) Shall have
satisfactorily completed the Basic Police Training Course approved by the
Commission and have acquired the following combinations of education and
training points combined with the prescribed years of law enforcement
experience.
GENERAL
|
Education Points and/or Training Points |
15 |
23 |
30 |
38 |
|
AND |
& |
& |
& |
& |
|
Years of Experience |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
8.
THE INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section
1 of this specification, the
following are required for the award of the Intermediate Certificate:
(a) Shall possess or be eligible to possess a
General Certificate.
(b) Shall have
satisfactorily completed six (6) semester hours of college English or its
equivalent from a college or university, approved in accordance with
Specification S-8, paragraph (a) with at least a 2.0 grade average on a 4.0
point scale. (Note: Equivalency will be determined in writing from the English
Department Head of the college or university granting credit for the
course)
(c) Shall have acquired the
following combinations of education and training points combined with the
prescribed years of law enforcement experience:
|
Education Points And/or Training Points |
30 |
45 |
60 |
75 |
Associate Degree |
|
AND |
& |
& |
& |
& |
& |
|
Years of Experience |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
9.
THE ADVANCED CERTIFICATE
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section
1 of this specification, the
following are required for the award of the Advanced Certificate:
(a) Shall possess or be eligible to possess
the Intermediate Certificate.
(b)
Shall have acquired the following combinations of education and training points
combined with the prescribed years of law enforcement experience and have
attained the college level indicated with an overall grade average of at least
2.0:
|
Semester Hours |
6 |
15 |
30 |
45 |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor's Degree |
|
Training Hours |
420 |
360 |
300 |
240 |
210 |
210 |
|
Years of Experience |
16 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
10.
THE SENIOR CERTIFICATE
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section
1 of this specification, the
following are required for the award of the Senior Certificate:
(a) Shall possess or be eligible to possess
the Advanced Certificate.
(b) Shall
have acquired the following combinations of education and training points
combined with the prescribed years of law enforcement experience and have
attained the college level indicated with an overall grade average of at least
2.0:
|
Semester Hours |
30 |
45 |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor's Degree |
Master's Degree |
|
Training Hours |
720 |
600 |
480 |
360 |
240 |
|
Years of Experience |
18 |
15 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
11.
PART-TIME I LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER
(Authorized to be employed 20 or more, but less than 40 hours per
week). Refer to Regulation 1001(21).
The following is required for the award of this certificate. The
applicant shall have:
(a) Completed
the minimum standards for employment or appointment as outlined in Regulation
1002;
(b) Satisfactorily completed
the prescribed Basic Police Training or its equivalent, as required for
Full-time law enforcement officers. (See Specification S-9)
(c) Completed the twelve (12) months
probationary period with the employing department. (See Regulation
1003)
(d) Application for award of
this certificate will be made on Commission Form F-7.
12.
PART-TIME II LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER
(Authorized to be employed less than 20 hours per week) Refer to
Regulation 1001 (22).
The following is required for the award of this certificate. The
applicant shall have:
(a) Completed
the minimum standards for employment or appointment as outlined in Regulation
1002;
(b) Satisfactorily completed
the prescribed Part-time Basic Police Training Course consisting of not less
than 110 hour or its equivalent;
(c) Completed the twelve (12) month
probationary period with the employing department.
(d) Application for award of this certificate
will be made on Commission Form F-7.
(e)
13.
AUXILIARY LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER
(This supplements Regulation 1011)
(a)
REQUIREMENTS
(1) An Auxiliary law enforcement officer is
any reserve, volunteer, mounted patrol and other similar terms in common usage
and refers to persons appointed and who receive no salary or wages for the
performance of any duties.
(2) To
be eligible for award of this certificate an Auxiliary law enforcement officer
must:
(a) Meet the minimum standards for
employment or appointment as outlined in Regulation 1002.
(b) Complete the twelve (12) month
probationary period with its appointing department as prescribed in Regulation
1003.
(c) Satisfactorily complete
not less than 110 hours of Commission approved law enforcement training prior
to being appointed as an Auxiliary officer.
(d) Satisfactorily complete a Commission
approved firearms qualification course equivalent to the firearms qualification
course required for full-time law enforcement officers.
(b)
GENERAL
INFORMATION(1) An auxiliary law
enforcement officer who does not meet the minimum standards for employment or
training shall not take any official action as a law enforcement officer and
any action taken shall be held as invalid.
(2) All persons who were serving as Auxiliary
law enforcement officers prior to March 24, 1993 must be a citizen of the
United States, at least 21
years of age and never entered a plea or found guilty of a felony at any
time.
(3) All persons serving as
Auxiliary law enforcement officers prior to the effective date of the Act shall
have one (1) year to complete or have completed the training requirements or
its equivalent as determined by the Commission.
14.
CERTIFICATES REMAIN PROPERTY OF THE
COMMISSION
Certificates remain the property of the Commission, and the
Commission shall have the power to recall or revoke any certificate as provided
in the Act.
(a) The Commission may
revoke the certification of any law enforcement officer after written notice
and hearing, based upon a finding that the officer falsified any information
required to obtain certification or has been discharged from employment as a
law enforcement officer for conduct or involvement in any act which is
prohibited by law.
(b)
Recommendations to the Commission from a department head for recalling
certification of an officer will be supported by a letter of justification.
Upon receipt of the recommendation and letter of justification, the matter will
be reviewed by the Commission and upon approval; the recall action will comply
with the State Administrative Procedures Act.
(c) The certification of any law enforcement
officer shall expire if the officer does not serve as a law enforcement officer
for six (6) consecutive months
15.
CHIEF OF POLICE CERTIFICATE - (NON-
MANDATORY)
In accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated §
12-9-104,
the following are suggested selection and training requirements and
non-mandatory basic and advanced levels of certification for Chiefs of
Police.
A.
LEVEL ONE
CHIEF
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section
1 of this specification, a Chief
of Police seeking the award of Chief of Police Certificate - Level One
should:
(1) Hold intermediate law
enforcement officer certification or higher.
(2) Complete a minimum of forty (40) hours of
police supervision/management training.
(3) Possess a minimum of two (2) years of
police supervisory or management experience.
B.
LEVEL TWO CHIEF
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 1 of this
specification, a Chief of Police seeking the award of Police Certificate -
Level Two should:
(1) Hold advanced
law enforcement officer certification or higher.
(2) Successfully complete police supervision
and/or management course of instruction of four (4) week or more duration, such
as the FBI Academy or the School of Police Supervision offered by the Arkansas
Criminal Justice Institute or a comparable course such as those offered by the
Southwestern Legal Foundation, Southern Police Institute, or Northwestern
University.
(3) Possess a minimum
of five (5) years' experience as a police chief or staff level command
officer.
C.
SENIOR CHIEF
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 1 of this
specification, a Chief of Police seeking the award of Chief of Police
Certificate - Senior Chief should:
(1)
Hold the senior law enforcement officer certification.
(2) Successfully complete police supervision
and/or management course of instruction of four (4) weeks or more duration,
such as the FBI Academy or the School or Police Supervision offered by the
Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute or a comparable course such as those
offered by the Southwestern Legal Foundation, Southern Police Institute, or
Northwestern University.
(3)
Possess a minimum of five (5) years' experience as police chief.
PROCEDURE
Applications for Chief's certification shall be made on Form
7a.
