15.2-1706 - Certification through training required for all law-enforcement officers; waiver of requirements. - Virginia Statutes

§ 15.2-1706. Certification through training required for all law-enforcementofficers; waiver of requirements.

A. All law-enforcement officers as defined in § 9.1-101 and all jail officersas defined in § 53.1-1 must be certified through the successful completion oftraining at an approved criminal justice training academy in order to remaineligible for appointment or employment. In order to obtain suchcertification, all entry level law-enforcement officers seeking certificationon or after July 1, 2003, shall successfully complete statewide certificationexaminations developed and administered by the Department of Criminal JusticeServices. The Department may delegate administration of the examinations toan approved criminal justice training academy and may revoke such delegationat its discretion. The appointee's or employee's hiring agency must providethe Department of Criminal Justice Services with verification thatlaw-enforcement or jail officers first hired after July 1, 1994, have met theminimum standards set forth in § 15.2-1705.

B. The requirement for the successful completion of the law-enforcementcertification examination may be waived by the Department of Criminal JusticeServices based upon previous law-enforcement experience and training. To beeligible for such waiver, the individual must have applied for and beengranted an exemption or partial exemption in accordance with § 9.1-116.

(1994, cc. 850, 905, § 15.1-131.8:1; 1995, c. 112; 1997, c. 587; 1999, c.635; 2002, c. 345; 2004, c. 477.)