1. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any full-time employee of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training who possesses the requisite qualifications may be certified or recertified as a police officer, certified reserve officer, corrections officer, parole and probation officer, fire service professional, telecommunicator or emergency medical dispatcher.
2. (2) A department employee who is certified as a police, certified reserve, corrections or parole and probation officer may exercise the authority granted by law to such officers. This includes, but is not limited to, the authority to possess material that is otherwise contraband under the laws of this state in the performance of official duties and the authority to carry a firearm or other weapon concealed.

3. (3) A department employee who is certified as a police, certified reserve, corrections or parole and probation officer, a fire service professional, a telecommunicator or an emergency medical dispatcher is considered to be employed as a full-time public safety officer in the discipline in which certification is held under this section for the following purposes:

   1. (a) Denying, suspending or revoking certification under ORS 181A.630, 181A.640 and 181A.650;
   2. (b) Determining eligibility to apply for benefits from the Public Safety Memorial Fund under ORS 243.954 to 243.974; and
   3. (c) Determining eligibility to be honored at the memorial created pursuant to section 1, chapter 508, Oregon Laws 1987.

[Formerly 181.651]