Virginia Regulatory Town Hall

Preliminary Draft Text

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Action:
Promulgate new regulation governing Law Enforcement Field ...
Stage: NOIRA
 

CHAPTER 280

RULES RELATING TO COMPULSORY MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS

6VAC20-280-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Academy director" means the chief administrative officer of a certified training academy.

"Agency administrator" means any chief of police, sheriff, or agency head of a state or local law-enforcement agency.

"Board" means the Criminal Justice Services Board.

"Certified training academy" means a training facility in compliance with academy certification standards operated by the state or local units of government for the purpose of providing instruction of compulsory minimum training standards.

"Compulsory minimum training standards" means the performance outcomes and training criteria approved by the Committee on Training.

"Department" means the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

"Director" means the chief administrative officer of the Department or his designee.

"Field training officer" means a certified law enforcement officer who provides training to newly employed law enforcement officers for the purposes of training and measuring entry-level officer performance.

"Provisional field training officer" means a certified law enforcement officer who provides training to a newly employed law enforcement officer for the purposes of training and measuring entry-level officer performance, but has not met the standards as prescribed under 6VAC20-280-30.  A provisional field training officer is only allowed to act as a field training officer if no other field training officer is available for that department.

6VAC20-280-20. Compulsory minimum training standards.

Pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 3 of § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia, the department establishes these standards for compulsory minimum training standards for law enforcement field training officers.

1.    The course shall include a minimum of 32 hours of training and must address each of the following subjects:

a.    Field Training Program and the Field Training Officer

b.    Field Training Program Delivery and Evaluation

c.    Training Liability

d.    Characteristics of the Adult Learner

e.    Methods of Instruction

f.     Fundamentals of Communication

g.    Written Test

2.    A field training officer recertification course shall include a minimum of 2 hours of training.  The director of a certified training academy shall establish recertification criteria for that academy.

6VAC20-280-30. Applicability.

A. Every law enforcement officer designated by the chief of police, sheriff, or agency administrator to serve as a field training officer must meet the compulsory minimum training standards established herein after December 31, 2012.

B. The law enforcement officer selected as a field training officer shall successfully complete a field training program designed by the certified criminal justice academy.

C. All officers serving as field training officers on or before December 31, 2012 shall not be required to comply with these regulations other than recertification.

D. Provisional field training officer certification means the individual performing field training officer functions who have not met the standards as prescribed under § VAC20-280-30, this certification:

1. Requires a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate (GED);

2. Requires the field training officer has met the minimum training standards for the primary function for which employed by a criminal justice agency, if applicable;

3. Does not authorize an individual to instruct or qualify others in mandated firearms, defensive tactics, driver training, or radar courses; and

4. Is not valid for more than one year and is not renewable.  Individuals may apply for field training officer certification upon meeting the requirements of meeting § 6VAC20-280.

6VAC20-280-40. Time Required for Completion of Training.

Effective January 1, 2013, each law enforcement officer designated by the chief of police, sheriff, or agency administrator shall comply with field training officer training requirements prior to serving in the capacity of the position.

6VAC20-280-50. Compliance with compulsory minimum training standards.

A.               The field training officer curriculum shall be maintained in accordance with the academy recertification standards.  The academy director shall maintain documentation of the type of training approved, means of attaining such training, and means of testing such programs.

B.               Training developed and conducted shall be subject to inspection and reviewed by the department.

C.              Agencies without a certified field training officer may complete category 10 requirements of § 6VAC20-20-21 with a certified field training officer from another Virginia criminal justice agency.

6VAC20-280-60. Grading.

A.    All certified training academies shall utilize testing procedures for initial certification which indicate that the field training officer has satisfactorily completed the training standards set forth herin.

B.   Academy training records must be maintained in accordance with the provisions of these rules and § 42.1-76 through § 42.1-91 of the Code of Virginia.

6VAC20-280-70. Recertification.

A field training officer's initial certification is not valid for more than three-years, but may be renewed by attending a field training officer recertification course.  The recertification course must contain at least two-hours of training and the director of a certified training academy shall establish recertification criteria for that academy.

6VAC20-280-80. Failure to comply with rules and regulations.

Any individual attending a certified training academy shall comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the department.  The academy director shall be responsible for enforcement of all rules and regulations established to govern the conduct of attendees.  If the academy director considers a violation of the rules and regulations detrimental to the welfare of the academy, the academy director may expel the individual from the academy.  Notification of such action shall immediately be reported, in writing, to the agency administrator of the individual in accordance with the rules and regulations within the authority of the certified training academy.

 

6VAC20-280-90. Administrative requirements.

Records of field training officer certification and recertification shall be maintained by the employing agency.