Wyo. Code R. 015-0009-4
Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Chapter 4: Certification, Employment, and Training Standards for Detention Officers
Effective Date: 01/05/2018 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 015.0009.4.01052018
Section 1. Temporary Certification. To qualify for a temporary certification detention officers shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(a) To qualify for reserve certification a detention officer shall meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(b) No person shall receive a reserve certification unless within two (2) years from the date of employment such person has completed a Commission approved detention officer basic training program and holds an appointment as a detention officer by a Wyoming law enforcement agency.
(c) A reserve detention 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) Detention 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) Failure of any reserve detention officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) To qualify for basic certification a detention officer shall:
(i) Meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(ii) Be a permanent full-time employee of a law enforcement agency in the State of Wyoming; and
(iii) Have completed a Commission approved detention officer basic training program.
(b) All full-time Wyoming detention officers shall have one (1) year from the date of employment to complete a Commission approved detention officer basic training program.
(c) Basic certification of permanent employees shall be valid for two (2) years from date of issuance.
(d) Failure of any full-time detention officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of certification.
(a) Advanced certification shall be awarded to an officer who meets the following requirements:
(i) Holds a permanent appointment and a basic certification as a detention officer in any law enforcement agency in the State of Wyoming;
(ii) Completes an additional twenty (20) hours of Commission approved training; and:
(iii) Has completed one (1) year of additional experience as a detention officer.
(b) The advanced training requirements in this section shall be completed within two (2) years following the date of basic certification.
(c) Failure of any detention officer to complete advanced training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
(a) Professional certification shall be awarded to a detention officer who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Has been awarded advanced certification, has completed an additional forty (40) hours of Commission approved training, and has acquired three (3) additional years of experience as a full-time detention officer; or
(ii) Has been awarded an associate's degree, has been awarded advanced certification, has completed an additional twenty (20) hours of Commission approved training, and has two (2) additional years of experience as a full-time detention 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 full-time detention 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) Detention officers awarded professional certification shall complete twenty (20) 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 detention officer to complete the requirements of professional training as provided by this section shall result in the denial of recertification.
Section 6. Extension of Time Requirements for Training. The director may grant an extension of time for completion of continuing training required by these rules upon a presentation of evidence by the department that a detention officer is unable to complete the required training within the time 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) The director may, upon recommendation of the employing agency, waive the basic, or mini basic, detention officer training program and certify those applicants who can pass a written examination provided by the Commission and an oral interview attesting to the applicant’s ability and core competencies in corrections.
(b) The applicant shall prove that he satisfactorily completed a basic, or mini basic, detention officer training program which in the Commission’s opinion is comparable to that required by this section before waiver is granted.
(c) The applicant must complete the Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedure course as outlined by WLEA.
(a) An agency may appoint an applicant to a certified position without further investigation if:
(i) The agency has received certification from the Wyoming Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission that the applicant holds current certification for the position; and
(ii) The agency has verified the applicant is employed in good standing by another law enforcement unit in Wyoming.
(b) The agency shall submit an Additional Agency Employment Form within fifteen (15) days of the appointment in writing or by electronic filing.
Section 9. Employment of Currently Certified Detention Officers. Currently certified Wyoming detention officers may be employed subject to the following conditions:
(a) Those currently certified detention officers who do not meet the requirements of POST Rules Chapter 4, Section 7 may be employed provided the employing agency completes all the requirements set forth in Chapter 2, Section 1 (c) (vii); and
(b) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment in writing or by electronic filing.
Section 10. Certification of previously, but not currently, Certified Detention Officers. Detention officers previously, but not currently, certified in Wyoming may be certified subject to the following conditions:
(a) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment in writing or by electronic filing.
(b) Those applicants who have been employed as a detention officer within the past three (3) years may be certified provided the applicant satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(c) Those applicants who have not been employed as a full time or part time detention officers 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 completes the following:
(i) Passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(ii) Successfully completes the Wyoming Criminal Law and Procedures Course provided by the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy (WLEA) for detention basic;
(iii) Proves firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification course required for detention basic. The POST firearms proficiency challenge test shall be conducted by a POST certified instructor from another agency, qualified as a WLEA firearms instructor, and fired on WLEA qualification targets; and
(iv) Provides proof of current CPR certification.
(d) Applicants who have not been employed as either full time or part time detention officers five (5) years or more and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full-time detention officer shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and successfully complete a full detention basic course to become certified.
(e) Applicants who were employed as either full time or part time detention officers five (5) years, but less than ten (10) years, and who had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full-time detention officer may attend the POST approved mini detention basic in lieu of the full detention basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini detention basic, the detention challenge process, and compliance with the provision of Chapter 2, Section 1, the applicant detention officer shall be granted detention certification. Approval to attend the mini detention basic shall only be granted by the Director.
(f) Applicants who have not been employed as a full time detention officer for ten (10) years or more shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and successfully complete a full detention officer basic to become certified.
(a) Those applicants who have previously established certification or completed basic training in states other than Wyoming may petition the Commission for certification only when the applicant completes the following conditions:
(i) The employing agency shall submit an Initial Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment in writing, or by electronic filing.
(ii) Has been employed as either a full time or part time detention officer within the past five (5) years;
(iii) Can provide documentation of the successful completion of a detention officer basic program that is, as determined by the Commission, comparable to the Wyoming detention officer basic offered during the same time period;
(iv) Meets the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1;
(v) Passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(vi) Successfully completes the Wyoming criminal law and procedures course provided by the WLEA for Detention basic;
(vii) Proves firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification course required for detention basic. The POST firearms proficiency challenge test shall be conducted by a POST certified firearms instructor from another agency, qualified as a WLEA firearms instructor, and fired on WLEA qualification targets; and (viii) Provides proof of current CPR certification.
(b) Applicants who were last employed as either a full time or part time detention officers more than five (5) years and have had less than five (5) continuous years as a full-time detention officer shall satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and successfully complete a full detention basic course to become certified;
(c) Applicants who have been unemployed as either a full time or part time detention officers for five (5) years, but less than ten (10) years, and had been employed for five (5) or more continuous years as a full-time detention officer may attend the POST approved mini detention basic in lieu of the full detention basic course. Upon successful completion of the mini detention basic, the detention challenge process, and compliance with the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, the detention officer shall be granted detention certification. Approval to attend the mini detention basic shall be granted by the Director.
(a) A pre-service graduate who meets the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1 may be employed and certified if employed by a Wyoming law enforcement agency within two (2) years from date of graduation.
(b) A pre-service graduate who meets the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1 may be employed and certified if employed by a Wyoming law enforcement agency more than two (2) years but less than five (5) years from the date of graduation upon successful completion of the detention officer challenge process.
(c) A pre-service graduate whose fifth anniversary since graduation has passed shall successfully complete the current detention officer basic course.
(a) Currently certified Wyoming Correctional Officers may be considered for certification if the applicant:
(i) Successfully completes the POST approved mini detention basic in lieu of the full detention basic course;
(ii) Successfully completes the POST approved detention basic firearms course;
(iii) Proves firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification course required for detention officer basic. The POST firearms proficiency challenge test shall be conducted by a POST certified firearms instructor from another agency, qualified as a WLEA firearms instructor course and fired on WLEA qualification targets;
(iv) Successfully passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice); and
(v) Provides proof of current CPR certification.
(a) Correctional officers not holding a current Wyoming detention officer certification, who have previously established certification or completed a correctional officer basic training course and have been employed as a correctional officer within the past 5 years may receive a detention officer certification if the applicant meets the following:
(i) Successfully completes the POST approved mini detention basic in lieu of the full detention basic course;
(ii) Successfully completes the POST approved detention basic firearms course;
(iii) Proves firearms proficiency by passing the WLEA firearms qualification course required for detention officer basic. The POST firearms proficiency challenge test shall be conducted by a POST certified firearms instructor from another agency, qualified as a WLEA firearms instructor course and fired on WLEA qualification targets;
(iv) Successfully passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(v) Provides proof of current CPR certification; and
(vi) Satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
Section 15. Credit for Accredited College Semester Hours. Detention officers may receive training hours for accredited college credits as follows:
(a) Job-related semester credits will be equivalent to ten (10) Commission training hours per credit hour earned.
(b) If a college is using the quarter system, the quarter hours are equivalent to seven (7) Commission training hours per hour earned.
(c) College hours can only be applied to continuing training requirements.
(a) Detention officers who work with both juvenile and adult inmates in collocated facilities shall be trained and certified to work with juveniles. The training program shall include, at a minimum, the following areas: