Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024
(1) An applicant seeking to become certified
as a dispatcher or peace officer shall submit a completed application packet to
the division that includes:
(a) a written or
electronic application form provided by the division;
(b) a photocopy of a government-issued
identification card;
(c) evidence
that the applicant is a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident to
include:
(i) a photocopy of a birth
certificate;
(ii) a photocopy of a
United States passport;
(iii) in the
case of naturalized citizen, a naturalization number; or
(iv) in the case of a lawful permanent
resident, a photocopy of a lawful permanent resident card that identifies
residence for five years immediately preceding the day on which the application
is made;
(d) one
completed FBI applicant fingerprint card (Form FD-258) with the applicant's
legible fingerprints;
(e) one
recent color photograph of passport quality with the applicant's name written
on the back of the photograph;
(f)
evidence that the applicant has completed high school or obtained the
educational equivalent; and
(g) the
application fee, unless the applicant has been hired as a dispatcher or peace
officer by a governmental entity.
(2) An applicant seeking to become a
certified peace officer shall also submit a medical evaluation from a medical
doctor indicating the applicant is able to participate in all aspects of the
training program.
(3) The
applicant must submit the application packet four weeks prior to the start of a
training program to allow the division adequate time to process the application
packet.
(a) The division shall not accept nor
process any application that is not complete or fails to include all required
attachments.
(4) An
application shall be considered valid for one year from the time the
application is completed by the applicant.
(5)
(a)
Once a completed application packet is received by the division, the packet
shall be reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the requirements in
Sections
53-6-203
or
53-6-302.
(b) If the division does not have sufficient
information to make this determination, the division may request the applicant
provide additional information.
(6)
(a) In
determining whether an applicant has demonstrated good moral character as
required by Sections
53-6-203
or
53-6-302,
the division shall conduct a criminal history background check of local, state,
and national criminal history files to determine if the applicant has a
criminal record.
(b) An applicant
with a criminal history that contains any of the following shall be denied
entrance into a training program and shall not receive certification:
(i) a conviction of a felony under state or
federal law in this or any other state;
(ii) dismissal from the armed services under
dishonorable conditions; or
(iii) a
conviction of domestic violence, unless the conviction has been expunged or set
aside.
(c) An applicant
who has been convicted of, or involved in conduct which is a state or federal
criminal offense, may not be allowed to attend a basic training program or
receive POST certification for a period of time consistent with the POST
Council disciplinary guidelines as approved by the council.
(i) The waiting period shall run from the
date of the involvement, unless the applicant is still under court supervision
(i.e. probation) for the violation, in which case the applicant will not be
allowed to make application until the probation has been successfully completed
or the applicant is no longer under court supervision.
(ii) Waiting periods shall run concurrently
for applicants who have been convicted of or involved in multiple
violations.
(d) Any
activity involving the abuse of alcohol or drugs may be considered in
determining whether an applicant will be allowed to attend a basic training
program or receive POST certification.
(e) An applicant convicted of or involved in
minor crimes not otherwise identified in this rule, including traffic
violations that reflect a willful disregard for lawful behavior as evidenced by
repetitiveness of conduct or other aggravating factors, may not be allowed to
attend a basic training program or receive POST certification prior to one year
from the latest conviction or involvement.
(i)
In cases where arrest warrants are issued, the one-year waiting period will
begin at the time the warrant is served on the applicant.
(f) If an applicant is found to have
falsified any information to gain admittance into a basic training program, a
two-year waiting period shall be applied from the date the division becomes
aware of the falsification.
(i) If the
falsified information is covered by other sections of this rule, (i.e., state
or federal criminal offense) and a specific waiting period is required, the
division shall require the applicant to wait the longer of the two periods.
Waiting periods will not be combined to run concurrently.
(ii) If an applicant completes the basic
training program and prior to taking the certification examination the division
becomes aware of a falsification, the applicant shall not be allowed to take
the certification examination.
(iii) An applicant who is dismissed during
the course of a basic training program for falsifying any information to obtain
certification shall not be eligible for further POST training or certification
until the two-year waiting period has been met.
(iv) If an applicant becomes certifiable and
then is subsequently discovered to have falsified information to obtain
certified status, that individual may be subject to suspension of their POST
certification.
(7) If the applicant is the subject of an
ongoing investigation by the division, the applicant shall not be deemed
eligible to attend a training program until the investigation is
completed.
(8) If the division
determines that the applicant meets all of the requirements in Sections
53-6-203
or
53-6-302,
the division shall notify the applicant that the applicant is eligible to
attend a training program.
(9) If
the division determines that the applicant does not meet the requirements in
Sections
53-6-203
or
53-6-302,
the applicant shall be denied admission to a training program.
(10) Applicants who are accepted into a peace
officer training program shall pass the POST physical fitness requirements for
entrance into the specific training program as approved by the council and
outlined in POST policy and procedure 2390-Physical Training
Requirements.
(11) Applicants who
are accepted into a peace officer training program shall be subject to random
and "for cause" drug testing as outlined in POST policy and procedure 2400-Drug
Testing for Applicants and Cadets.
(12) Applicants seeking dispatcher
certification must also provide evidence of Utah Emergency Medical Dispatcher
(EMD) certification.
