Section 3.01. Minimum standards for preparatory training.

 

(1)  Minimum standards for preparatory training for law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers shall require that:

(a) The minimum amount of preparatory training which must be successfully completed by a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement recruit before that recruit may be certified as eligible for permanent appointment shall be a total of 400 hours. The subjects and the minimum time during which they are to be covered in this preparatory training shall be determined by the board after due consideration of recommendations made by the advisory curriculum committee identified in s. LES 3.02 . The curriculum so decided upon may be changed by the board as the need becomes apparent due to technological changes affecting law enforcement, current problems involving the public welfare or additional recommendations made by the advisory curriculum committee. Instructional goals for the 400 hour preparatory training course approved by the board are identified in s. LES 3.03 .

(b) Trainees shall obtain passing grades of at least 70% or its lettered equivalent in written examinations in all subjects with the exception of competency-based subjects for which there are board approved examination checklists. For the competency-based subjects, trainees must demonstrate their achievement of training objectives to the satisfaction of board certified instructors.

(c) Each trainee must successfully complete this training within the original probationary period. Under justifiable circumstances, this period may be extended for a period not to exceed one year, but the total period during which a person may serve as a full-time law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer on a probationary or temporary basis without successfully completing this training shall not exceed 2 years. Part-time officers must successfully complete the entire course in not more than 3 years. The total period during which a person may serve as a part-time law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer on a probationary or temporary basis without successfully completing this training shall not exceed 3 years. For purposes of this section, a part-time law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer is a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer who routinely works not more than one-half of the normal annual work hours of a full-time employee of the employing agency or unit of government.

(d) The law enforcement code of ethics, as set forth below, shall be administered as an oath to all trainees during the preparatory course.

1. AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve humanity; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality and justice.

2. I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

3. I WILL never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

4. I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself to my chosen profession....law enforcement.

(2)  Minimum standards for jail and secure detention officer preparatory training shall be as follows:

(a) A minimum of 120 hours of preparatory training shall be successfully completed by a jail or secure detention officer recruit before that recruit may be certified as eligible for permanent appointment. The subjects and minimum number of hours for each subject to be covered in this preparatory training shall be determined by the board. The instructional goals may be changed by the board as the need becomes apparent due to technological changes affecting jail or secure detention administration, current problems involving the public welfare or additional recommendations made by the advisory curriculum committee identified in s. LES 3.02 . Instructional goals for the 120 hour preparatory training course approved by the board are identified in s. LES 3.04 .

(b) Trainees shall obtain passing grades of at least 70% or its lettered equivalent in written examinations in all subjects with the exception of competency-based subjects for which there are board approved examination checklists. For the competency-based subjects, trainees must demonstrate their achievement of training objectives to the satisfaction of board certified instructors.

(c) Each recruit shall successfully complete this training within his or her original probationary period. Under justifiable circumstances this period may be extended for a period not to exceed one year.

(3)  It should be noted that the foregoing represents the minimum amount of training required. Additional preparatory training is strongly recommended where the employing authority is in a position to require it.