Wyo. Code R. 015-0009-3
Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Chapter 3: Certification & Training Standards for Peace Officers
Effective Date: 05/20/2002 to 11/03/2003
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 015.0009.3.05202002
Peace officers shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(a) An officer shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(b) No person shall receive a reserve certification unless such person has completed a Commission approved peace officer basic training program and holds an appointment as a peace officer by a Wyoming law enforcement unit.
(c) A reserve officer certification awarded to an individual complying with this section shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from date of issuance.
(d) Officers awarded reserve certification shall meet continuing training requirements of twenty (20) hours every two (2) years to maintain their reserve certification. Verification of the required training shall be provided to the Commission within two (2) years of the date of reserve certification, and every two (2) years thereafter.
(e) Written application for renewal of reserve certification signed by both the reserve officer and the department administrator shall be made to the Commission prior to the expiration of the current certification.
(f) Failure of a reserve officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of recertification by the Commission.
(a) An officer shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(b) An officer shall be a permanent full-time employee of a law enforcement unit in the state of Wyoming.
(c) No person shall receive a basic certification unless such person has completed a Commission approved peace officer basic training program.
(d) All full-time Wyoming peace officers shall have one (1) year from the date of employment to complete a Commission approved peace officers basic training program.
(i) The full basic course curriculum and number of training hours shall be approved yearly by the Commission.
(ii) The mini basic course curriculum and number of training hours shall be approved yearly by the Commission.
(e) Basic certification of permanent employees shall be valid for two (2) years from date of issuance.
(f) Renewal of certification shall be subject to satisfactory completion of advanced certification training requirements.
(g) Failure of an officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of certification by the Commission.
(a) Every person who holds a permanent appointment and holds a basic certification as a peace officer in any law enforcement unit in the State of Wyoming is required to complete additional training beyond the requirements of the basic certification.
(b) Upon satisfactory completion of an additional eighty (80) hours of Commission approved training, and following one (1) year of additional experience as a peace officer, the officer shall receive certification as an advanced officer.
(c) The advanced training requirements in this section shall be completed within two (2) years following the date of basic certification.
(d) Failure of any peace officer to complete advanced training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) Professional certification shall be awarded to an officer who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Has been awarded advanced certification, has completed an additional eighty (80) hours of Commission approved training and has acquired three (3) additional years of experience as a peace officer;
(ii) Has been awarded an associate's degree, has been awarded advanced certification, has completed an additional forty (40) hours of Commission approved training and has two (2) additional years of experience as a peace officer; or (iii) Has been awarded a baccalaureate degree or beyond, has been awarded advanced certification and has completed one (1) year additional experience as a peace officer.
(b) The professional training requirements of this section shall be completed no later than three (3) years following the date of advanced certification.
(c) Peace officers awarded professional certification shall complete forty (40) hours of continuing training every two (2) years. Verification of required training shall be provided to the Commission within two (2) years following the date of professional certification, and every two (2) years thereafter.
(d) Failure of any officer to complete the requirements of professional training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
The Commission may grant an extension of time limit for completion of continuing training required by these rules upon a presentation of evidence by the department that an officer is unable to complete the required training 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.
(a) Currently certified Wyoming officers
(i) Those officers who hold current Wyoming certification may be re-employed provided the employing agency completes the background investigation required by Chapter 2, Section 1.
(ii) The employing agency shall submit a Re-entry Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(b) Officers previously certified in Wyoming
(i) Those officers who do not have current certification and have been out of law enforcement less than three (3) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(ii) Those officers who have been out of law enforcement for more than three (3) years but less than five (5) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and:
(A) Passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(B) Successfully completes the Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures Course provided by the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy for peace officer basic;
(C) Proves firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification courses required for the peace officer basic. The POST firearms proficiency challenge test shall be conducted by a POST certified firearms instructor qualified pursuant to the WLEA firearms instructor course and fired on WLEA qualification targets;
(D) Provides proof of current CPR certification; and
(E) Successfully completes a Commission approved domestic violence course.
(iii) 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 satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and successfully complete a full peace officer basic course to become certified.
(iv) 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, the peace officer challenge process, and compliance with provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, the officer will be granted peace officer certification. Approval to attend the mini peace officer basic shall only be granted by the Commission.
(c) Officers certified/trained in states other than Wyoming
(i) Those officers who have previously established certification or completed basic training in states other than Wyoming may petition the Commission for certification only upon the following conditions:
(A) 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 grants reciprocity for training received in the State of Wyoming;
(B) The applicant officer has been out of law enforcement less than five (5) years;
(C) The applicant officer can provide documentation of successful completion of a peace officer basic program that is, in the Commission's opinion, comparable to the Wyoming peace officer basic offered during the same time period;
(D) The applicant officer satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1;
(E) The applicant officer passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission, (the examination may only be taken twice);
(F) Successfully completes the Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures Course provided by the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy for peace officer basic;
(G) The applicant officer successfully completes a Commission approved domestic violence course;
(H) The applicant officer proves firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification course required for peace officer basic. The POST firearms proficiency challenge test shall be conducted by a POST certified firearms instructor qualified pursuant to the WLEA firearms instructor course and fired on WLEA qualification targets; and
(I) The applicant officer provides proof of current CPR certification.
(ii) 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 satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and successfully complete a full peace officer basic course to become certified.
(iii) Officers who have been out of law enforcement five (5) years or more but had been employed for five (5) continuous years or more 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, the peace officer challenge process, and compliance with the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, the officer shall be granted peace officer certification. Approval to attend the mini peace officer basic shall be granted by the Commission.
(a) A pre-service applicant shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1. (b) A pre-service applicant shall pass the Commission's entry level exam.
(c) A pre-service graduate is certifiable upon employment within two (2) years from date of graduation.
(d) A pre-service graduate is certifiable upon employment after two (2) years but before five (5) years if the graduate completes the challenge process.
(e) A pre-service graduate whose fifth anniversary since graduation has passed shall successfully complete the current peace officer basic course.
(f) Hiring agencies may accept a pre-service graduate's psychological exam up to one (1) year from graduation date if the agency has received and reviewed the exam results.
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.
(a) Job related semester credits will be equivalent to ten (10) Commission training hours.
(b) If a college is using the quarter system, the quarter hours are equivalent to seven (7) Commission training hours.
(c) College hours can only be applied to advanced and professional training requirements.