A. In-service law enforcement training consists of at least forty hours of academic instruction, approved by the board, for each certified police officer during each twenty-four month period of employment or service with a political subdivision. The first training course shall commence no later than twelve months after graduation from an approved basic law enforcement training program.

B. All certified police officers who are eligible for in-service training shall, during each twenty-four month period of employment, complete a minimum of forty hours of in-service law enforcement training in courses approved by the board. All certified police officers shall provide proof of completing in-service law enforcement training requirements to the director no later than March 1 of the year in which the requirements must be met. The director shall provide annual notice to all certified police officers regarding in-service law enforcement training requirements. Failure to complete in-service law enforcement training requirements may be grounds for suspension of a certified police officer's certification. A police officer's certification may be reinstated by the board when the police officer presents the board with evidence of satisfying in-service law enforcement training requirements.

History: 1978 Comp., § 29-7-7.1, enacted by Laws 1981, ch. 114, § 7; 1993, ch. 255, § 9.

The 1993 amendment, effective July 1, 1993, rewrote this section.

In-service training not mandatory. — The legislature has required the establishment of in-service training programs by the law enforcement academy, but has not compelled attendance at such programs by imposing the sanction of forfeiture of employment. As police officers are not bound to obey the requirement for in-service training, it is not mandatory. 1981 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 81-10 (rendered under prior law).