Law enforcement officers who have been certified in another
state may, upon application to the director with council approval, take a
competency test or tests to gain Iowa law enforcement officer certification,
adhering to all requirements set out in Iowa Code section 80B.11F, as well as
any additional requirements set out by the academy. Successful completion of
the required test or tests will result in certification by the council. The
test or tests will be prepared and administered by the academy or its designee,
and the passing score will be determined by the academy. The required test or
tests will be based upon the officer's prior law enforcement training and
experience as follows:
(1)
Five
or more years of law enforcement experience. Officers with more than
five years of full-time law enforcement experience, to include federal law
enforcement time, will be required to pass a test or tests which will primarily
measure the officer's knowledge of Iowa laws. The test or tests will include,
but need not be limited to, such topics as criminal law, motor vehicle law,
juvenile law, law of arrest, law of search and seizure, and law regarding the
use of force.
(2)
Less than
five years of law enforcement experience. Officers with less than five
years of full-time law enforcement experience will be required to pass a
comprehensive test or tests which will focus on all phases of law enforcement.
The test or tests will include, but need not to be limited to, such topics as
criminal law, juvenile law, motor vehicle law, law of arrest, law of search and
seizure, law regarding the use of force, confessions and admissions, crime
prevention, community relations, minority relations, crime scene investigation,
vehicle stops, and rules of evidence.
(3)
Tabulating previous law
enforcement experience. In tabulating whether an officer has met the
law enforcement experience requirement, no credit will be given for experience
received from the officer's current employment.
(4)
Criteria to be eligible to
certify through examination. The following will be prerequisites for
certification through examination:
a.
Successful completion of a minimum 400-hour certifying basic law enforcement
training school in another state, which certification has not been withdrawn or
suspended by the certifying state.
b. Firing a verified score of 80 percent or
greater with the officer's service handgun since the individual's appointment
as an Iowa law enforcement officer, and which course of fire was prescribed by
the academy and administered by the Iowa law enforcement academy or its
designee.
c. Possession of a
current Iowa law enforcement emergency care provider (ILEECP) card or another
appropriate certification recognized by the Iowa law enforcement
academy.
(5)
Application and testing periods. Application for certification
through examination shall be made within 120 days of the applicant's hiring
date, unless a determination is made by the academy council that this time
period should be extended for "good cause." Failure to make timely application
for certification through examination may result in the applicant's being
required to attend a certifying academy.
(6)
Retesting requirements.
Failure to successfully complete this examination will require retesting within
60 days in the areas failed. If any area is failed a second time, it will be
necessary for the individual to attend and satisfactorily complete training at
the academy covering those areas of deficiency. Successful completion of the
training will result in law enforcement officer certification by the academy
council.
(7)
One year's
absence from law enforcement shall require training. An officer who
has not served as a regular law enforcement officer during the 12-month period
preceding the officer's hiring date will be required to attend a certifying
school.