Wyo. Code R. 015-0009-4
Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Chapter 4: Certification and Training Standards for Detention Officers
Effective Date: 12/04/2012 to 01/05/2018
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 015.0009.4.12042012
(a) 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 unit.
(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 meet the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1.
(b) A detention 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 detention officer basic training program.
(d) 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.
(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) Failure of any full-time detention officer to complete the requirements of this section shall result in the denial of certification.
(a) Every person who holds a permanent appointment and holds a basic certification as a detention 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 twenty (20) hours of commission approved training, and following one (1) year of additional experience as a detention officer, the detention officer shall receive certification as an advanced detention 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 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 detention officer;
(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 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 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.
The Commission 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) 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.
(iii) The employing agency shall submit an Additional Agency Employment Form within fifteen (15) days of the appointment.
(a) Currently certified Wyoming detention officers
(i) 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; and
(ii) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(b) Detention officers previously certified in Wyoming
(i) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(ii) Those applicant detention officers who were previously certified and 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.
(iii) Those applicant detention officers who were previously certified and last employed as detention officers more than three (3) years but less than five (5) years ago 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 detention basic;
(C) 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
(D) Provides proof of current CPR certification.
(iv) Applicant detention officers who were employed as detention officers five (5) years or more ago 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.
(v) Applicant detention officers who were employed as detention officers five (5) years, but less than ten (10) years ago, 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.
(c) Officers certified/trained in states other than Wyoming.
(i) The employing agency shall submit an Employment Form to the Commission within fifteen (15) days of appointment.
(ii) Those applicant detention 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 detention officer has been employed as a detention officer within the past five (5) years;
(B) The applicant detention officer can provide documentation of the successful completion of a detention officer basic program that is, in the Commission’s opinion, comparable to the Wyoming detention officer basic offered during the same time period;
(C) The applicant detention officer satisfies the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1;
(D) The applicant detention officer passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice);
(E) The applicant detention officer successfully completes the Wyoming criminal law and procedures course provided by the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy for Detention basic;
(F) The applicant detention officer 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
(G) The applicant detention officer provides proof of current CPR certification.
(iii) Applicant detention officers who were last employed as detention officers more than five (5) years ago 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;
(iv) Applicant detention officers who have been unemployed as 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 only 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
(i) Applicant correctional officers who hold current Wyoming correctional officer certification seeking detention officer certification must complete the following:
(A) The applicant detention officer successfully completes the POST approved mini detention basic in lieu of the full detention basic course;
(B) The applicant officer successfully completes the POST approved detention basic firearms course;
(C) The applicant officer 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;
(D) The applicant officer successfully passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice); and
(E) The applicant officer provides proof of current CPR certification.
(b) Previously certified Correctional Officers
(i) Correctional officers not holding a current Wyoming 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 must satisfy the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1, and complete the following:
(A) The applicant detention officer successfully completes the POST approved mini detention basic in lieu of the full detention basic course;
(B) The applicant detention officer successfully completes the POST approved detention basic firearms course;
(C) The applicant detention officer 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;
(D) The applicant detention officer successfully passes a written challenge examination provided by the Commission (the examination may only be taken twice); and
(E) The applicant detention officer provides proof of current CPR certification.
Section 11. Credit for College Accredited Hours.
(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 continuing training requirements.
Section 12. Detention Officers Working with Juveniles in Collocated Facilities.
(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: