Maine § 2804-B. - Preservice law enforcement training

§ 2804-B.. Preservice law enforcement training

1.  Required.  A person may not serve as a law enforcement officer with the power to make arrests or the authority to carry a firearm in the course of duty until certified by the board as satisfying all preservice training requirements.

2.  Preservice training standards.  The board shall establish standards for preservice training certification. In establishing the standards, the board shall consider the use of a registered apprenticeship with a certified, experienced officer, to be followed by an examination given by the board, as an alternative to part or all of the preservice training course leading to preservice certification. In establishing the standards, the board shall cooperate with the State and local departments and agencies to which the preservice standards apply to ensure that the standards are appropriate.

3.  Certification.  The board shall certify each person who meets the preservice training standards as eligible to serve as a law enforcement officer with the power to make arrests and the authority to carry a firearm in the course of duty, subject to annual recertification training as prescribed by the board.

4.  Course.  The board shall provide a training course, the successful completion of which must meet the preservice training standards. In developing and delivering the training course, the board shall consider the use of telecommunications technology. The board may work with post-secondary and other institutions within the State to deliver the preservice training course throughout the State as often as reasonable demand requires.

5.  Agency sponsorship.  The board shall evaluate the use of law enforcement agency sponsorship, screening of preservice training applicants and students and the availability of preservice training before employment.

6.  Completion of basic law enforcement training sufficient.  The board shall certify law enforcement officers who successfully complete basic law enforcement training under section 2804‑C before being empowered to make arrests or given the authority to carry a firearm in the course of duty as having satisfied the preservice training standards.

7.  Part-time law enforcement officers.  The board shall certify law enforcement officers who successfully complete preservice law enforcement training and who have qualified with a firearm using the board firearm proficiency standards as part-time law enforcement officers. Thereafter, as a condition of continued service as a part-time law enforcement officer, the officer must satisfactorily maintain the preservice certification. The board shall maintain a roster of all currently certified part-time law enforcement officers. The roster must be available for inspection by the public at the academy during regular working hours.

8.  Application to currently certified law enforcement officers.  This section does not apply to any law enforcement officer certified as meeting the law enforcement training requirements or to any full-time law enforcement officer employed by a state agency, including the University of Maine System, as of July 1, 1990.