Have You Completed Peace Officer Training?

For those of us that are not former court officers that is a good question. In order to be certified a peace officer by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) we must complete both peace officer and firearm's training. If this training is not completed within the first 12 months of appointment you may not excercise your authority as a peace officer until you complete the requisite training. Additionally, you are not permitted to supervise personnel that either carries or has access to a firearm if you have not completed firearm's training. This information maybe news to some of you. (Please read a handbook titled " A Guide To Peace Officer Employers" promulgated by the DCJS for more detailed information. )

We need to encourage those among us that have not yet completed the training to complete their certification. The training we get from the academy is worth in excess of $2000.00 if you had to obtain it privately. Learning to handle a firearm is a valuable skill. We work around firearm's everyday and we never know if we will be called upon to handle or safeguard a weapon. I understand that many of you that have not gone for training might say that you don't want a firearm. I am not suggesting that you get one, if you prefer not to. Once you complete the training you have 3 options:

1. Purchase a firearm and qualify annually in order to maintain your carry status.
2. Don't purchase a firearm and use a loaner/range weapon to qualify annually in order to maintain your carry status.
3. Don't purchase a firearm and do not qualify annually and have "No Gun" stamped on your ID card.

No matter which option you choose you will have met the requirements for certification by DCJS.

Why is this important? Our peace officer status is at least part of the reason we are classified JG-21 and not JG-18 like our upstate counterparts. At a time when we are fighting for reclassification and the union is asking the legislature for "Police Status" does it serve our cause to have so many in our ranks that are not firearm's trained? We need to do this for our own security and the future viability of our title. JM