Md. Code Regs. 12.04.01.09

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 25, December 13, 2024

Section 12.04.01.09 - Minimum Standards for Entrance-Level Training for Police Officers

A. General Requirements.

(1) An applicant for certification as a police officer shall successfully complete an entrance-level training program approved by the Commission before the Commission may certify the applicant as a police officer.

(2) A Commission-approved entrance-level training program is a minimum of 850 hours.

(3) The Commission may permit hours used to meet entrance-level firearms training and qualification requirements under COMAR 12.04.02 to be used as part of the 850-hour minimum under §A(2) of this regulation, regardless of whether the activity is conducted contemporaneously with or separate from the entrance-level training program.

(4) The Commission may not permit field training requirements under Regulation .17 of this chapter to be used as part of the 850-hour minimum under §A(2) of this regulation, regardless of whether the activity is conducted contemporaneously with or separate from the entrance-level training program.

B. The entrance-level program shall be approved by the Commission and include the subject areas and minimum hours specified in this regulation.

C. Commission-Required Subject Areas.

(1) For the Commission to approve an entrance-level training program for police officers, the entrance-level training program shall include the following subject areas:

(a) Organizational principles and law;

(b) Patrol;

(c) Traffic;

(d) Criminal investigation;

(e) Emergency medical care, which shall also provide training in lifesaving techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);

(f) Communications;

(g) Report writing and composition;

(h) Crime prevention;

(i) Crisis intervention;

(j) Protective strategies and tactics, including training in the proper level and use of force;

(k) Emergency vehicle operations;

(l) Prisoner processing and security;

(m) Courtroom preparation and testimony;

(n) Health and wellness;

(o) Terrorism and weapons of mass destruction;

(p) Sensitivity to cultural and gender diversity; and

(q) Individuals with physical, intellectual, developmental, and psychiatric disabilities.

(2) Police officer firearms training and qualification:

(a) May be included in police officer entrance-level training; and

(b) If police officer firearms training and qualification is included in police officer entrance-level training, shall be separately approved by the Commission according to the requirements under COMAR 12.04.02.

D. Commission-Required Performance Objectives.

(1) Minimum Performance Objectives. For the Commission to approve an entrance-level training program for police officers, the entrance-level training program shall include activities to ensure that the applicant for police officer certification has met performance objectives that are:

(a) Composed and sanctioned by the Commission; and

(b) Based on a Statewide job task analysis and that address those tasks considered essential for law enforcement officers in Maryland, regardless of law enforcement agency or assignment.

(2) The Commission shall furnish a copy of the performance objectives upon request by a law enforcement agency, academy, or school.

(3) The training director of a law enforcement agency, an academy, or a school responsible for police officer entrance-level training shall:

(a) Cover the Commission performance objectives during entrance-level training exactly as written by the Commission; and

(b) Determine the sequence, content, and duration of training required to cover the Commission's performance objectives.

E. Successful Completion of Commission-Approved Entrance-Level Training.

(1) The training director of an academy shall conduct testing to verify that an applicant for certification as a police officer has learned or can perform each of the Commission's performance objectives.

(2) One or more objectives may be addressed by relevant single or multiple demonstrations or questions.

(3) An applicant for certification as a police officer shall achieve a minimum overall score of 70 percent in each subject area in §C of this regulation. The training director, or a designee, shall maintain accurate records of tests and testing procedures.

(4) At the conclusion of entrance-level training, the training director shall verify in writing to the Commission that an applicant has met the requirements under this regulation.

(5) Transfer of Academy Training.

(a) Credit for training received may be transferred from one academy to another at the discretion of the academy receiving the credit for training.

(b) The training director of the academy submitting notification in writing to the Commission that the applicant has met the requirements under this regulation is responsible for verifying completion of all Commission training objectives for that applicant.

(6) An applicant absent for more than 5 percent of entrance-level training is not considered to have successfully completed the entrance-level training unless the training director and the Deputy Director determine that sufficient work has been completed.

(7) An applicant shall meet the minimum qualification standard for certification in an emergency medical care program that has been approved by the Commission.

(8) A training director for an academy may require an applicant to meet entrance-level training requirements, standards, and objectives that exceed Commission minimum requirements, standards, and objectives.

F. Failure to Complete Entrance-Level Training.

(1) The training director shall notify the applicant's law enforcement agency if the applicant does not complete the entrance-level training.

(2) If an applicant does not meet the requirements for Commission-approved entrance-level training, the Commission may not certify the applicant as a police officer.

G. Waiver of Commission Entrance-Level Training Requirements.

(1) A law enforcement agency that serves a unique function in law enforcement may be granted an exemption from a portion of this regulation.

(2) An agency head shall submit a request for an exemption and the appropriate documentation according to the requirements under Regulation .14 of this chapter.

(3) An applicant for certification by the Commission as a police officer who has completed entrance-level training in another state or for the federal government may be eligible to receive a waiver from a portion of the Commission-required entrance-level training upon:

(a) Meeting the requirements under Regulation .14E(8) of this chapter; and

(b) Meeting other requirements approved by the Commission.

H. Entrance-Level Firearms Training.

(1) A police officer who is required to use or carry a firearm shall successfully meet Commission-required performance objectives and standards of the entrance-level firearms training and qualification under COMAR 12.04.02 before using or carrying a firearm as part of the police officer's duties.

(2) The entrance-level firearms training and qualification may be completed concurrently with or as a separate activity from an entrance-level training program.

I. Standards for an Applicant's Admission to an Academy Providing Entrance-Level Training.

(1) In addition to Commission requirements, an applicant attending entrance-level training shall meet the qualification standards set by the law enforcement academy conducting the entrance-level training.

(2) For an individual to attend a law enforcement academy, the law enforcement agency shall:

(a) Obtain a physical examination by a licensed medical doctor to determine whether the applicant is physically fit to participate in the academy training; and

(b) Perform a check of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) files before the applicant is admitted to the program.

(3) The hiring agency head shall:

(a) Provide an applicant with a copy of the selection standards under Regulation .04 of this chapter; and

(b) Require the applicant to acknowledge in writing that completion of the entrance-level training is not a guarantee of certification as a police officer.

Md. Code Regs. 12.04.01.09

Regulations .09 amended effective July 14, 1978 (5:14 Md. R. 1137)
Regulation .09 amended effective August 13, 1984 (11:16 Md. R. 1392); December 31, 1984 (11:26 Md. R. 2279); May 5, 1986 (13:9 Md. R. 1031); October 2, 1989 (16:19 Md. R. 2105); January 1, 1992 (18:22 Md. R. 2397)
Regulation .09A amended effective October 2, 1989 (16:19 Md. R. 2105); November 12, 1990 (17:22 Md. R. 2657)
Regulation .09E amended effective November 12, 1990 (17:22 Md. R. 2657)
Regulations .09 repealed and new Regulations .09 adopted effective August 25, 1997 (24:17 Md. R. 1215)
Regulations .09 amended as an emergency provision effective August 25, 1997 (24:19 Md. R. 1336); amended permanently effective February 9, 1998 (25:3 Md. R. 146)
Regulation .09A amended effective January 20, 2003 (30:1 Md. R. 25)
Regulation .09J amended effective July 1, 2000 (27:10 Md. R. 966)
Regulation .09A amended effective August 24, 2009 (36:17 Md. R. 1313)
Regulation .09G amended effective November 12, 2012 (39:22 Md. R. 1429)
Regulation .09G amended effective September 2, 2013 (40:17 Md. R. 1420)
Regulation .09I amended effective November 25, 2013 (40:23 Md. R. 1935)
Regulation .09 amended effective 42:17 Md. R. 1111, eff.8/31/2015; amended effective 43:2 Md. R. 128, eff.2/1/2016; amended effective 50:15 Md. R. 682, eff. 8/7/2023