Law Enforcement Officer Requirements:
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Law Enforcement Officers Yearly Standards of
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Certification Conducted by FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement).
The following rules and regulations of “Question 7” are currently in effect and are the rules and regulations in question here, that needs to be modified for the security of Law Enforcement Standards of Certification of Law Enforcement Officers in Florida and across the USA:
Beginning of Question 7: How long is my (Standards of) certification valid?
Answer: Once certified, an officer’s certification remains valid as long as the officer is ”Employed” in a sworn position and completes all mandatory retraining. The officer must maintain active employment and meet the mandatory retraining requirements to keep the certification active.
If the officer separates from employment for any reason other than military duty, the officer has four years from the date of separation before the certification expires.
During that time, the officer may need to take the 40-hour mandatory training to become re-employed. If the officer has a break in service from 4 years to 8 years, he or she must contact one of the approved selection centers, training schools, or an employing agency in order to apply for an Equivalency of Training.
Once the selection center, training school, or agency verifies your eligibility, you will be issued an Application for Equivalency, CJSTC Form 76.
Upon receipt of this approval, you will have one year to demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas (which may take one to two weeks) and pass the State Officer Certification Exam. End of Question 7: **
Police Officers and Law Enforcement Officers across the USA shouldn’t lose their standards of certification in an Example of a Police Departments Budget being to tight and does not permit the police department to hold the standards of the Police Officer and therein the Police Officers Employment is terminated. After which the Police Officers Standards expires after four years.
As long as the Police Officer maintains their mandatory training for yearly certification, a Law Enforcement Officers Standards of Certification should remain Qualified and in good standing for employment. A Police officer or Law Enforcement Officer should not lose their Standards of Certification just because the Budget of a Local Police Department or Sheriff Department can’t afford to keep them on the force because of budget issues.
The Dedication and Service of Law Enforcement Officers provided in their careers as Peace Keepers, their Standards of Certification should not be determined and come to an abrupt end because of local law enforcement departments budget issues or ruled by the stipulation of the rules and regulations of employment.
One of the issues Law Enforcement Officers have is if their requirement of a Law Enforcement Officers Standards of Certification is to be maintained by a Local Police Department Agency and the employment requirements was to be eliminated in this instance. The Law Enforcement Officers would need to, once a year, perform “The High Liability Training” which is conducted by the Local Law Enforcement Agency closest to the Law Enforcement Officer which reiterates once again that the Law Enforcement Officer would need to be employed by the local department in order to conduct this training.
“The High Liability Training” should be conducted, in this instance using Florida as the example, it should be conducted by FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). This way the local police department agencies don’t carry the budget burden issues of maintaining police officer standards of certification and these department agencies can be bypassed. This would make readily available many Law Enforcement Officers for Rehires or New Hires onto Local Department Agencies and a State like Florida or any other State in the United States would not experience a lack of Qualified Law Enforcement Officers.
Likening Law Enforcement Officers Standards of Certification to a Real Estate Licensee. Take for Example the procedures of getting and maintaining a “Real Estate License” where the Licensee as long as they maintain continuing education classes, the licensee can keep their license up to date. A Real Estate Licensee does not need to keep their License with a Broker to maintain their License. In this same way, the continuation of Law Enforcement Standards Certification should not be determined by employment at a local police department agency. The transference of “The High Liability Training” conducted once a year should be conducted by FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement).
FDLE is an approved selection center of training schools applicable for the Equivalency of Training and can verify eligibility of the Law Enforcement Officer as well as provide mandatory yearly training for these Peacemakers called the children of God.
In God We Trust!
Matthew 5:9-19
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question 1: How do I become a certified officer in Florida?
Answer: There are three certifications in Florida; Law Enforcement, Corrections and Correctional Probation.
First, you must take and pass a Basic Abilities Test (BAT) in the discipline for which you want to become certified. The BAT is not required for correctional probation.
Upon passage of the BAT, you must be fingerprinted for purposes of a criminal history background check.
The next step is to complete the Basic Recruit Training Program at one of the CJSTC-certified training schools.
Following completion of the Basic Recruit Training Program, you must apply for and pass the State Officer Certification Exam.
Finally, you must gain employment and comply with the requirements of 943.13, F.S. within four years of the date you started training.
Once all statutory requirements are met, the employing agency will apply for your certification. A Field Specialist will review your officer file at the agency to ensure statutory compliance and approve your certification.
Question 2: Who pays for basic recruit training?
Answer: The individual may receive the training at his/her own expense before applying with an agency to become an officer.
Based on need, agencies have the ability to hire a person on a Temporary Employment Authorization and sponsor the applicant through the academy.
In some cases the potential employing agency may pay the tuition and salary of the officer trainee. If this is done, the applicant may be required to sign an agreement to remain with that agency for a period of two years after completion of the training or they may be responsible to repay the agency for any expenses incurred during the training period.
You can refer to FS 943.16 for further information on possible pay back implications.
Question 3: How long is my basic training good for if I don’t find a criminal justice employment?
Answer: Your training is valid for four years from the date you started training.
If you have not passed the State Officer Certification Exam and gained employment in a sworn position within 4 years of starting the training, you will have to repeat the basic recruit training.
Question 4: If I am certified in another state, can I transfer my certification to Florida?
Answer: Yes, in most cases. You must contact one of the approved selection centers, Commission-approved training school, or an employing agency and provide them with documentation proving that you have worked at least one year full-time as a certified officer and have training that is comparable to Florida’s basic recruit training program.
Once the selection center, training school, or agency determines you are eligible for an Equivalency of Training, you will be issued an Application for Equivalency, CJSTC Form 76.
Upon receipt of this approval, you will have one year to demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas (which may take one to two weeks) and pass the State Officer Certification Exam.
If you do not complete this process within one year from receiving the approved Application for Equivalency, you may be able to apply for another Equivalency of Training, however you must still be eligible pursuant to s. 943.131, F.S. If you are no longer eligible, you will have to complete the Basic Recruit Training Program to be eligible for certification.
Question 5: What information does an employing agency need to gather for my employment?
Answer: Regardless of whether you are moving from another criminal justice agency or this is your first sworn employment, the employing agency is required to conduct a thorough background investigation and have documentation of file to confirm compliance with 943.13, F.S. You will need to provide proof of age and citizenship in the form of a U.S. birth certificate, current U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate; proof of at least a high school diploma or equivalent; DD214 or other official military separation documentation; and proof of any name changes since birth.
You are required to have a physical examination with the doctor completing the Physician’s Assessment, CJSTC Form 75 for the agency and have a drug screen done. The employing agency will direct you on when and where to have these done.
The employing agency is required to complete a number of forms during the employment process. These forms include the
- Registration for Employment, Affidavit of Compliance, CJSTC Form 60,
- Affidavit of Applicant, CJSTC Form 68 (this form will be signed by you), and
- Employment Background Investigation Report, CJSTC Form 77.
Additionally, the employing agency is required to have the results of a fingerprint background check on file.
If this is your first sworn employment, the employing agency will be applying for your certification and will complete the Officer Certification Application, CJSTC Form 59. If you are employed on a Temporary Employment Authorization, the employing agency must complete the Temporary Employment Authorization Statement, CJSTC Form 65.
There may be a number of other forms and documents that the employing agency may require depending on your individual circumstances. The employing agency may also have other requirements beyond these minimum requirements. These requirements could include things such as taking a polygraph examination, taking a psychological examination, meeting higher education requirements, and completing physical abilities tests.
Question 6: What do I have to do to keep my certification?
Answer: All certified officers must complete 40 hours of training every four years to maintain their certification. This training can be taken at the employing agency, local training school, or any training approved by the agency administrator and must be updated by the employing agency no later than June 30th, starting four years after the certification was issued.
Law Enforcement Officers:
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Professional Traffic Stops and Discriminatory Profiling (no minimum hour requirement).
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Domestic Violence (no minimum hour requirement).
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Juvenile Sex Offender Investigation (no minimum hour requirement).
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Human Diversity training (Professional Traffic Stops may be credited for Human Diversity Training).
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Any additional training the agency administrator approves of for a total of 40 hours.
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Use-of Force Scenario Based training is required. The training must include scenario-based firearms training, physiological response dynamics training, less-lethal force options available within the agency, agency policies on Use-of–Force training, and the legal aspects regarding Use-of-Force.
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All certified law enforcement officers are required qualify once every two years with their firearm. This 40 round qualification course must be conducted by a Commission-certified firearms instructor. This qualification must be completed by June 30th of every even numbered year.
Correctional and Correctional Probation Officers:
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Human Diversity training (no hour requirement).
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Any additional training the agency administrator approves of for a total of 40 hours.
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Use-of-Force Scenario Based training is required. The training must include scenario-based firearms training (correctional officers only), physiological response dynamics training, less-lethal force options available within the agency, agency policies on Use-of–Force training, and the legal aspects regarding Use-of-Force.
Question 7: How long is my certification valid?
Answer: Once certified, an officer’s certification remains valid as long as the officer is employed in a sworn position and completes all mandatory retraining. The officer must maintain active employment and meet the mandatory retraining requirements to keep the certification active.
If the officer separates from employment for any reason other than military duty, the officer has four years from the date of separation before the certification expires.
During that time, the officer may need to take the 40-hour mandatory training to become re-employed. If the officer has a break in service from 4 years to 8 years, he or she must contact one of the approved selection centers, training schools, or an employing agency in order to apply for an Equivalency of Training.
Once the selection center, training school, or agency verifies your eligibility, you will be issued an Application for Equivalency, CJSTC Form 76.
Upon receipt of this approval, you will have one year to demonstrate proficiency in the high liability areas (which may take one to two weeks) and pass the State Officer Certification Exam.
Question 8: Is there a way to supplement my salary?
Answer: Yes. An officer can receive $30 monthly for an Associate degree and an additional $50 for a Bachelor degree or higher, providing the degree is from an accredited university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
An officer can also receive $20 monthly for every 80 hours of advanced training taken from a Commission-certified training school.
The maximum salary incentive is $130 per month for training and education. Salary incentive money is not funded by the state and must be budgeted and approved by the employing agency.