CHAPTER 5 SATISFACTION OF MINIMUM PEACE OFFICER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Section 1. The Basic Training Program. (a) The basic course curriculum and number of training hours shall be approved yearly by the commission. (i) Copies of the approved curriculum may be obtained from the director. (b) The mini basic course curriculum and number of training hours shall be approved yearly by the commission. (c) All full-time Wyoming peace officers must have either previously or within one (1) year complete a commission approved peace officers basic training program. (d) Any full-time peace officer for any law enforcement unit in or for the State of Wyoming shall forfeit his position unless he previously has completed or within one (1) year from the date of appointment completes a commission approved peace officer basic training program. Section 2. Peace Officers Advanced Training - Eighty (80) Hours. (a) All full-time peace officers must meet the requirements of advanced training within two (2) years of basic certification. (b) Advanced training must be approved by the commission. (c) Failure of any peace officer to complete advanced training as provided by this section shall result in denial by the director of recertification. Section 3. Professional Training. (a) All full-time officers must meet the requirements of professional training within three (3) years of advanced certification. (b) All full-time officers who have been awarded advanced certification must obtain an additional eighty (80) hours of peace officer training within three (3) years. Upon completion of the required training and three (3) additional years of experience the officer will be awarded professional certification. (c) All full-time officers who have been awarded an associate degree must complete an additional forty (40) hours of peace officer training within two (2) years of advanced certification. Upon completion of the required training and two (2) additional years of experience the officer will be awarded professional certification.
(d) All full-time officers who have been awarded a baccalaureate degree or beyond and have been awarded advanced certification will be awarded a professional certification by completing one (1) additional year of experience. Section 4. Maintaining Professional Training. (a) Peace officers awarded professional certification must meet continuing education requirements of forty (40) hours each two (2) year period. Verification of required training must be received by the director within two (2) years following the date of professional certification, and every two (2) years thereafter. (b) At the expiration of each peace officer s certification, the director shall evaluate the training record to verify completion of required training, and thereafter re-issue certification where appropriate. Section 5. Extension of Time Requirements for Training. The commission may grant an extension of time limit for completion of any course required by these rules upon a presentation of evidence by the department that an officer is unable to complete the required course within the time limit prescribed because of illness, injury, military service, special duty assigned or required in the public interest of the concerned jurisdiction, or because of restriction on the availability of required training. Section 6. Waivers for Equivalent Training and Reciprocity. (a) The commission may, by a majority vote, waive the basic peace officer training program and certify those applicants who can pass a written examination provided by the commission and an oral interview conducted by the employing department attesting to the applicant s ability and knowledge of law enforcement. The applicant shall show proof of having satisfactorily completed a basic peace officer training program which in the commission s opinion is comparable to that otherwise required by these Rules before such waiver shall be granted. The applicant must also: (i) (ii Attend the Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures Course at WLEA; Attend required family violence training; (iii) Submit proof of CPR certification. (iv) Prove firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification courses required at the peace officer basic. The instructor must be a WLEA certified instructor and use the forms provided by the commission. (b) An applicant shall not apply for and take the written examination to secure a waiver more than twice. (c) Any person who has been employed on a permanent basis as a peace officer in the State of Wyoming, for ten (10) consecutive years prior to July 1, 1973, and who is currently employed as a peace officer, shall be certified as a peace officer by the director without having complied with the
provisions of these Rules. This subsection does not preclude the advanced training requirements for recertification. Basic certification obtained under this subsection shall be effective for a period of two (2) years. Thereafter all permanent appointees shall meet the advanced and professional training requirements of this chapter of the Rules to qualify for recertification. (d) Nothing in these Rules shall be construed to exempt any peace officer from the provisions or requirements of civil service. (e) Successfully completed job related courses offered by accredited universities and community colleges shall be accepted toward advanced and professional certification. (f) Military police training may be accepted toward certification on a case-by-case basis after review by the director with the consent of the commission; provided, however, that the applicant shall be required to pass the written examination provided by subsection (a) of this section and attend a course on Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy or a commission approved course. Section 7. Re-entry Employment. (a) Currently certified Wyoming officers: (i) Those officers who hold current Wyoming certification may be re-employed providing the employing agency shall ensure that the applicant meets the background standards of Chapter 2, Section 1(e). (ii) The employing agency must submit a Re-entry Employment Form to the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission within fifteen (15) days of their appointment. (b) Previously certified Wyoming officers: (i) Those officers who do not have current certification but have been out of law enforcement less than three (3) years may be recertified provided the applicant meets the provisions of W.S.9-1-704(b) (Minimum Standards for Employment.) (ii) Those officers who have been out of law enforcement for more then three (3) years but less than five (5) years may be recertified provided the applicant meets the provisions of W.S.9-1- 704(b) (Minimum Standards for Employment); and (A) Provided the applicant officer can pass a written challenge examination provided by the commission, (B) The applicant officer must attend a Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures Course at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy or a commission approved course. (C) The applicant officer must prove firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification courses required for the peace officer basic. The instructor must be a WLEA certified firearms instructor and use the form provided by the commission.
(D) The applicant officer must provide proof of current CPR certification. (c) Officers who have been out of law enforcement for five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full time peace officer shall attend and successfully complete a full peace officer basic course to become certified. (d) Officers who have been out of law enforcement five (5) years or more but had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full time peace officer may attend the POST approved mini peace officer basic in lieu of the full peace officer basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini peace officer basic and the peace officer challenge process, the officer will be granted peace officer certification. Approval to attend the mini peace officer basic course shall be granted by POST. (e) Those officers who have previously established certification in states other than Wyoming may petition the commission for certification only upon the following conditions: (i) The applicant officer has received training in a state which has adopted a Peace Officer s Standards and Training Act substantially similar to that adopted in Wyoming, and such state does grant reciprocity for training received in the state of Wyoming. (ii) The applicant officer has been out of law enforcement less than five (5) years. (iii) The applicant officer can provide documentation that he has satisfactorily completed a peace officer basic program that is comparable to that of Wyoming. The following formula will be used to evaluate the hours which will be accepted for basic certification in the state of Wyoming: Prior to July 1, 1973-100 hours After July 1, 1973 to June 30, 1976-150 hours After July 1, 1976 to June 30, 1982-200 hours After July 1, 1982 to December 31, 1987-320 hours After January 1, 1988 to January, 1991-392 ½ hours After January 1, 1992 to December, 1992-403 hours After January 1, 1993 to December, 1993-410 hours After January 1, 1994 to present - 426 HOURS commission. (iv) The applicant officer can pass a written challenge examination provided by the (v)the applicant officer must meet the provisions of W.S.9-1-704(b) (Minimum Standards for Employment.) (vi) The applicant officer must successfully complete a specialized Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures course at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy or a commission approved course. (vii) The applicant officer must attend a specialized course in family violence matters at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy or a commission approved course.
(viii) The applicant officer must prove firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification course required for peace officer basic. The instructor must be a WLEA certified firearms instructor and use the form provided by the commission. (ix) The applicant officer must provide proof of current CPR certification. (f) Officers who have been out of law enforcement for five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full time peace officer shall attend and successfully complete a full peace basic course to become certified. (g) Officers who have been out of law enforcement five (5) years or more but had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full time peace officer may attend the POST approved mini peace officer basic in lieu of the full peace officer basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini peace officer basic and the peace officer challenge process, the officer shall be granted peace officer certification. Approval to attend the mini peace officer basic shall be granted by POST. Section 8. Credit for Wyoming Highway Patrol Academy. (a) Graduates of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Academy shall be granted a number of hours toward advanced and professional certification which shall be determined by the commission. Section 9. Credit for College Semester Hours. hours. (b) College hours can only be applied to advanced and professional training requirements (a) Job related semester credits will be equivalent to ten (10) commission training