In addition to complying with the foregoing standards, each
applicant for certification must also comply with the following
requirements.
01.
Agency
Employment. Each applicant must be an employee of an agency, as defined
in these rules, in a position requiring POST certification, or be a member of
POST professional staff.
02.
Background Investigation. The employing agency must conduct a
comprehensive background investigation of each applicant to ensure that he
meets requirements for POST certification and employment in the law enforcement
profession.
a. The applicant must complete a
comprehensive application and personal history statement prior to a background
investigation in aid of determining he is eligible for certification.
b. The applicant must be fingerprinted on a
standard FBI Applicant fingerprint card and a search of local, state, and
national fingerprint databases must be made to disclose any criminal record.
The employing agency must retain originals of all records check
results.
c. The employing agency
must investigate the applicant's traffic records in each state in which he
resided.
d. The background
investigation must include information from personal references, schools, the
applicant's last three (3) previous employers, and law enforcement agency or
PSAP records in jurisdictions where the applicant has lived or
worked.
e. The employing agency
must interview each applicant to ascertain his suitability for the law
enforcement profession. Interview topics must include use of intoxicants,
controlled substances, physical, mental, and emotional history, family
problems, moral outlook and habits, and the applicant's financial
history.
f. An experienced
investigator must conduct a thorough investigation into the applicant's
reputation, integrity, honesty, dependability, qualifications, experience,
associations, emotional stability, and respect for the law.
03.
Physical Readiness
Assessment. The employing agency shall require an assessment of an
applicant's physical readiness to ensure he can perform physically demanding
tasks and tests while attending a basic training academy or equivalent program.
An applicant who fails a required physical test during an academy may be
dismissed, but may attend a future academy and must pass a physical readiness
test prior to certification.
04.
Mental Readiness Assessment. Where there is a question as to
whether the applicant may be subject to a mental or emotional disorder that
calls his suitability for the law enforcement profession into question, the
employing agency shall have a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist conduct a
thorough evaluation to ensure he is capable of performing law enforcement
duties.
05.
Application. Each applicant must fill out a POST Application and
submit it to the employing agency, which shall submit it to POST with all
required documentation.
a. Upon review of an
application, POST may inspect an agency's background investigation file to
ensure it is accurate and complete. If a review indicates that information
submitted to POST may be inaccurate, incomplete or falsified, the Division
Administrator must inspect the agency's background investigation
file.
b. If the application
contains inaccuracies or omissions, the Division Administrator may require the
agency to supplement the application, and may approve the
application.
c. If the application
contains evident falsifications, the Division Administrator shall reject the
application.
06.
Aptitude Test. An applicant shall complete an aptitude test to
ensure he is capable of performing law enforcement duties.
07.
Code of Ethics/Standards of
Conduct. Each applicant shall attest that he will abide by the following
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, and that he understands violations thereof
constitute grounds for decertification:
As a member of the law enforcement profession, my fundamental
duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the
innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and
the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional
rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and
will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or my agency. I
will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule;
develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others.
Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be
exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I
see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official
capacity will be kept ever secret, unless revelation is necessary in the
performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings,
prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to
influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and the relentless
prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately
without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or
violence and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge or position of my office as a symbol of
public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true
to the ethics of law enforcement/public service. I will never engage in acts of
corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other law enforcement or
emergency communications officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized
agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.
I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of
professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance
and improve my level of knowledge and competence. I will constantly strive to
achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God or have a
sincere and unfaltering commitment to my chosen profession...law
enforcement.
08.
Time
for Completing Basic Training Academy or Alternative Training, Field Training
and Probationary Period.
a. Except as
otherwise provided in these rules, every person attending a basic training
academy must complete that academy, a minimum of 40 hours of field training and
six consecutive months of probation in that discipline with that hiring agency
within twelve months of beginning employment in order to be
certified.
b. Emergency
communications officers attending a basic training academy must complete that
academy, and six consecutive months of probation in that discipline with that
hiring agency within eighteen (18) months of beginning employment in order to
be certified.
c. Any person who
does not become certified in the relevant discipline within three (3) years of
graduating from a basic training academy or POST certified equivalent program
must repeat that entire academy or program in order to become
certified.
d. Every person seeking
certification through the POST challenge process must complete that process
within one year of beginning employment with an agency.
