31 Miss. Code. R. 301-9.2 - Policy

1. The Board shall evaluate each applicant's documented record of experience, education and training. The accomplishments in each area shall be weighed to compare the applicant's credentials with the current standards for professional certification.

A. The certification status of any law enforcement officer shall lapse after a break in service of more than two years. Time of Service will be determined by official Board records (applications, rosters).

1. Officers, certified in this state, who have had basic as in Chapter 9, Rule 9.2, Subsection-C and meet the employment guidelines, with a break in service of more than two (2) years, are required to complete the hands-on skill tests and law courses of the refresher course and provide verification of First Aid/CPR certification to restore their certification. The skill tests and law courses must be completed within one year for full-time status and two years for part-time status of their date of hire. The skill tests must be conducted by a certified instructor or at a Board accredited academy. The law courses must be conducted at a Board accredited academy.

2. Officers, certified in this state, who have had basic as in Chapter 9, Rule 9.2, Subsection-C and meet the employment guidelines with a break in service of five (5) years or more are required to complete the refresher course and provide verification of First Aid/CPR certification to restore their certification. The refresher course must be conducted at a Board accredited academy within one year for full-time status and two years for part-time status of their date of hire.

B. All transfer applicants from another state jurisdiction that meet the employment guidelines applying for certification under Equivalency of Training must have completed training and the required on the job training as defined in Chapter-9, Rule 9.2, Subsection-C. Applicants who were excluded or "grand-fathered" under the provisions of another state are not eligible for any exclusion in Mississippi. All individuals applying for certification under this chapter from federal jurisdictions must have completed a law enforcement training program as defined in Chapter-9, Rule 9.2, and Subsection-C. Transfer applicants are required to complete the refresher course and provide verification of First Aid/CPR certification to receive certification. The refresher course must be conducted at a Board accredited academy within one year for full-time status and two years for part-time status of their date of hire.

C. Officers must have successfully completed an acceptable basic law enforcement training course to be eligible for certification based on equivalency of training. Officers who have not met this requirement must complete the basic course to obtain certification.

1. An acceptable basic law enforcement training course shall be defined as:

a. One that meets an approved state standard for mandated training which leads to certification as a law enforcement officer. In addition to having completed a state approved basic course, officers whose total basic course hours are below the hours of the Mississippi curriculum, must also have completed on the job training consisting of at least six months of full-time law enforcement experience in the same jurisdiction wherein the training was completed;

b. A basic course, equivalent to the Mississippi curriculum, sponsored by a federal agency for its law enforcement officer;

2. In situations where the course predated state statutory requirements for law enforcement training or the course was administered by a federal jurisdiction, the course curriculum will be compared to the Mississippi curriculum. Basic law enforcement training courses which were conducted by the former Mississippi Game and Fish Commission or the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics prior to the enactment of the Law Enforcement Officer Training Program shall be acceptable for purposes of granting equivalency.

3. The Board staff will review the actual basic course completed. Courses will be compared to the curriculum offered during the same period in this state. In addition to the courses listed, the staff will review the standards for successful graduation, the duration of the course and the training delivery method. The course must equal or exceed our existing standards to be considered an acceptable course.

4. Acceptable courses include written and hands-on examinations. Candidates must have passed all course requirements or achieved a minimum score of seventy percent (70%), whichever is higher.

D. Any officer, certified in this state, whose break in service was due to service in a closely related criminal justice position may restore their certification by completing the hands-on skill tests and law courses of the refresher course. Once an officer has been deemed eligible for the skill tests and law courses, the department head will be notified by the Board.

1. Applicants must have: completed the basic course as in Chapter-9, Rule 9.2, Subsection-C above, met the current employment guidelines and completed each of the hands-on skill tests and law courses and provide verification of First Aid/CPR certification within one year for full-time status and two years for part-time status of their date of hire. The skill tests must be conducted by a certified instructor or at a Board accredited academy. The law courses must be conducted at a Board accredited academy. Academies and instructors must review the Board's notice that the student is eligible for the skill tests and law courses. The skill tests are:

a. Firearms,

b. Defensive Driving and

c. Mechanics of Arrest

2. Applicants must have served in a full-time capacity in one of the following positions (or other position as approved by the Board):

a. As an instructor in a Board-approved academy, instructor or student in criminal justice (or related subject area) at an institution of higher learning,

b. Or as an investigator for a district attorney, or investigator for a state level agency responsible for enforcing criminal statutes,

3. Applicants must have served in a part-time law enforcement position in this state.

E. Any officer, certified in this state, whose break in service was due to serving as a law enforcement officer in another state or federal jurisdiction may restore their certification. Eligible officers need only complete the hands-on skill tests and law courses of the refresher course and provide verification of First Aid/CPR certification within one year for full-time status and two years for part-time status of their date of hire. The skill tests must be conducted by a certified instructor or at a Board accredited academy. The law courses must be conducted at a Board accredited academy

1. Applicants must have completed the basic course as in Chapter-9, Rule 9.2, Subsection-C above and met the current employment guidelines.

2. Applicants must have served in a full-time capacity as a law enforcement officer in one of the following positions (or other position as approved by the Board):

a. A municipal police officer, county deputy sheriff or other law enforcement officer appointed or employed full-time in a recognized political subdivision of any state, province or territory of the United States of America who is vested with the authority to bear arms, make arrests and has as their primary duty the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of criminals and the enforcement of criminal and traffic laws of the political subdivision.

b. Any person currently or formerly classified under the GS-1811 series or any uniformed federal law enforcement officer who is: appointed or employed full-time by the United States Department of Justice or its law enforcement subdivisions, the Department of Defense or its recognized military service branches, the Department of the Interior, the Department of the Treasury or its law enforcement subdivisions, or the District of Columbia; and/or who is vested with the authority to bear arms, make arrests, and has as their primary duty the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of criminals, and the enforcement of criminal and traffic laws of the United States of America.

F. The Board shall establish the acceptable curriculum and training delivery methods for the refresher course.

1. Any Board accredited training academy may present the refresher course curriculum. With prior Board approval, academies may tailor the curriculum delivery to that method best suited for their service area. Training standards shall also include certified instructors, record keeping and testing. Academies must review the Board's notice that the student is eligible for the refresher course.

2. Should agencies decide to integrate refresher course students into existing basic course classes, the refresher student shall be expected to complete the entire module to obtain credit for the refresher curriculum.

3. The academy shall provide the Board staff a preliminary roster, class schedules with planned instructors, and any new instructor applications not later than 10 working days prior to the class start date.

4. The academy shall provide the Board staff an updated entrance roster (if applicable), the student's graded entrance fitness score sheet, and the original completed training packets not later than five working days after the class report date. The candidate's NCIC report, certificate of high school/GED completion and verification of First Aid/CPR certification must be attached. All conflicts or missing information in these packets must be resolved before process can be completed.

5. Within ten (10) working days of the completion of the class, the academy must send a copy of the certificate, and the student's final grades to their department and to the Board. The final roster of students completing the class, written documentation of any student failure, dismissal, or withdrawal with reason from the academy must be submitted to the Board within ten (10) working days after completion of the class.

6. Any schedule changes must be reported in writing to the Board at the earliest opportunity (fax or e-mail), documented and maintained with the records of that course. A final schedule as amended with changes will be submitted with the final class roster and other end of course documents.

G. Standards for successful completion of the Refresher Course are:

1. An average academic score of 70%

2. A firearms qualifying score of 75%

3. A defensive driving score of 80%

4. A mechanics of arrest score of 80%

5. A physical fitness entrance score of 50%

6. Provide verification of First Aid/CPR certification

7. Financial obligations paid in full by self-sponsored cadets.

H. The Refresher Course is administered as a whole unit of training. The entire course must be completed satisfactorily to obtain certification. No credit will be given for partially completed training. In addition to the course standards, all students must adhere to all academy rules and regulations.

I. It is incumbent upon the law enforcement agency to ensure that all officers obtain certification. Employers should ensure that all applications for certification are submitted on a timely basis. Once the staff has provided instructions for the certification of a particular officer, employers should encourage their personnel to attempt testing/enrolling in training programs so that each officer will be assured of completing any and all requirements within the time period.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 301-9.2

Miss Code Ann.§ 45-6-7

Adopted 9/16/2019 Amended 2/12/2020 Amended 11/3/2021