31 Miss. Code. R. 301-13.3 - Procedures

1. Minimum requirements for certification of training instructors.

A. Individuals applying for certification to instruct in BLEOST approved courses must apply through the completion of a formal application (BLEOST Instructor Application Packet). Applications must be submitted to the Director of a Board approved training academy. That Director will review the application and forward the endorsed application to the Board for consideration. Each nominee for certification must meet the following requirements:

1. Education and Experience - The applicant must show an educational and criminal justice experience equal to one (1) of the following:

a. A high school graduate and five (5) or more years of experience in the subject area

b. Two (2) years of college and three (3) or more years' experience in subject area

c. A bachelor's degree and one (1) or more years of experience in subject area,

d. Or persons with specialized, identifiable skills not meeting the above requirements, may be certified upon academy director's request and staff review.

2. Sufficient Knowledge of Subject Matter - The applicant must demonstrate an adequate history as determined by the Board based on training, education, experience, professional credentials and/or proficiency skills suitable to the topic of instruction of which certification is being sought. Specific additional education or training will be required for the following designated special subject blocks:

a. Legal subjects - An applicant shall be a graduate of a law school or possess a qualification of substantial legal training and experience in the practical application of law to be certified to instruct legal subjects.

b. Firearms - An applicant shall have been trained in an acceptable firearms instructor course as determined by the Board to be certified to instruct firearms training

c. Police Driving - An applicant shall have been trained in an acceptable police driving instructor course as determined by the Board to be certified to teach police driving.

d. Emergency Medical Procedures - An applicant shall have been trained in an acceptable emergency medical procedures instructor course and an acceptable cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor course as determined by the Board to be certified to teach emergency first aid and CPR

e. Defensive Tactics - An applicant shall have been trained in an acceptable defensive tactics instructor course as determined by the Board to be certified to teach defensive tactics.

f. Physical Conditioning - An applicant shall have been trained in an acceptable physical conditioning instructor course as determined by the Board to be certified to teach physical conditioning.

3. Knowledge of Instruction - The applicant shall be cognizant of the methods of instruction and the aids available. Instructors must be able to clearly present the course material and meet the objectives outlined by the Board.

a. Instructor Training - All applicants must have completed a Board-approved instructor development training course of 40 hours or a comparable instructor course as determined by staff review. Persons with professional credentials recognized by the Board may be exempted.

b. Internship - The new instructor nominee will serve an internship wherein the nominating official will evaluate (BLEOST Instructor Evaluation Form) the nominee during actual instruction. The internship shall be at least two (2) hours in length and shall be conducted prior to certification. These evaluations shall be reviewed by the nominating official and forwarded to the Board along with the application.

c. Evaluation - The instructor shall be evaluated periodically by students on dimensions determined by the academy. Evaluations shall remain on file at the academy for a period of at least one (1) year.

d. Activity - All instructors shall remain active during their period of certification. If an instructor does not instruct in a Board approved curriculum during the period of his certification, his certification shall not be renewed.

B. Expiration - All instructor certifications expire three (3) years from the date issued. Individuals applying for renewal of instructor certification must complete a formal application for renewal. Applications must be submitted to the director of a Board-approved training academy. That individual will review the application and forward the endorsed application to the Board for its consideration. Each renewal certificate must meet the following requirements:

1. Reissuance will be based on submission of an updated application including:

a. The instructor must provide documentation that he/she has conducted training in a Board-approved curriculum during the certification period expiring.

b. The instructor must provide documentation of his/her continuing knowledge in the requested area of re-certification to the satisfaction of the academy director.

2. As with the professional certificate the instructor certificate remains the property of the Board. The possession and stewardship of the certificate is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency. The Board may revoke any instructor certificate upon a showing of just cause, which includes, but is not limited to:

a. Administrative error in issuance.

b. Falsification of any information on the application,

c. Failure to complete the prescribed internship,

d. Conviction or the entering of a plea of either guilty or nolo contendere, being fined, ordered into probation or pre-trial diversion in relation to a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a crime that is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of a law enforcement officer,

e. Mistreatment, abuse, or improper behavior involving a student,

f. Consistent failure to follow Board-approved training guidelines, learning objectives and lesson plans (where established),

g. And any other actions detrimental to professional law enforcement training.

3. Exemption from certification - In the event of exceptional emergency or other circumstances determined by the academy director a qualified non-certified instructor may be utilized; however, the non-certified instructor shall teach under the supervision of the nominating official. Facts explaining the utilization of the uncertified instructor shall be documented and maintained on file by the nominating official.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 301-13.3

Miss Code Ann.§ 45-6-7

Adopted 9/16/2019 Amended 11/3/2021