- (a) The Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training shall certify law enforcement officers deemed qualified to be field training officers for the purpose of training recruits.
(b)
- (1) Field training officers will be certified on the basis of minimum qualifications in the area of education, training, experience, and the ability to express knowledge and experiences to the recruit.
- (2) It shall be the responsibility of the department head to see that the field training officers are supervised on a regular basis to ensure a quality training experience is maintained.
(c)
- (1) Field training officer certification may be revoked whenever a field training officer is deemed by the department head or by the division as unqualified to continue training.
- (2) Such review may be initiated by the division in the absence of external requests or complaints.
- (d) The division shall certify law enforcement officers deemed qualified to be specialized field training officers for the purpose of training recruits.
(e)
- (1) Specialized field training officer certification may be revoked whenever the officer is deemed by the department head or by the division as unqualified to continue training.
- (2) Such review may be initiated by the division in the absence of external requests or complaints.
(f)
- (1) The actual evaluation and selection of the field training officers will remain the responsibility of the department head.
- (2) The department head is ultimately responsible for the quality of the instruction and training provided.
(g) Requirements for field training officers.
- (1) Law enforcement experience. A minimum of three (3) years of full-time experience in law enforcement is required.
- (2) Education. Possession of not less than the general certificate.
(3) Training. New applicants for field training officer certification will have completed a minimum of thirty-two (32) hours of division-approved classroom instruction, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- (A) Communications;
- (B) Techniques of instruction;
- (C) Evaluation of training;
- (D) Trainee motivation and counseling;
- (E) Communication skills;
- (F) Implicit bias;
- (G) Ethics;
- (H) Duty to intervene;
- (I) Cultural competency;
- (J) Deescalation; and
- (K) Crisis intervention training.
(4) Validation of certificate.
- (A) The field training officer's certificate shall remain valid from the date of issue unless recalled by the department head and returned to the division.
- (B) A field training officer certificate will be transferable should the officer change agencies.
- (C) The field training officer certificate will expire if the officer is separated from law enforcement for more than three (3) years.
(h) Requirements for specialized field training officers.
- (1) Law enforcement experience. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in specialized law enforcement is required.
- (2) Education. Possession of not less than the specialized certificate.
(3) Training. New applicants for specialized field training officer certification will have completed a minimum of thirty-two (32) hours of division-approved classroom instruction, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- (A) Communications;
- (B) Techniques of instruction;
- (C) Evaluation of training;
- (D) Trainee motivation and counseling;
- (E) Communication skills;
- (F) Implicit bias;
- (G) Ethics;
- (H) Duty to intervene;
- (I) Cultural competency;
- (J) Deescalation; and
- (K) Crisis intervention training.
(4) Validation of certificate.
- (A) The specialized field training officer's certificate shall remain valid from the date of issue unless recalled by the department head and returned to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
- (B) The specialized field training officer certificate will expire if the officer is separated from specialized law enforcement for more than three (3) years.