Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 203.52 - Mandatory in-service training courses(a) Mandatory in-service training is required of all police officers.(b) Mandatory in-service training shall consist of continuous in-service requirements and academic in-service requirements. (1) Continuous in-service requirements shall consist of the following: (i) Annual qualification on a police firearms course with any firearms, shotguns, or rifles authorized for use, including personal weapons carried in lieu of issued weapons or as a second weapon. A weapon may not be carried on duty for which an officer is not qualified.(ii) Maintenance of a first aid and CPR certification issued by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Department of Health or other agency approved by the Department of Health.(2) Academic in-service requirements shall consist of at least 12 hours of annual training as determined yearly by the Commission. The Commission will publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and in the Commission newsletter regarding the course content and specific hours.(c) Mandatory in-service administration shall consist of the following: (1) An applicant for instructor in the mandatory in-service training program shall meet the requirements of § 203.72(b) (relating to certification requirements).(2) Each school shall submit a training calendar to the Commission prior to the beginning of each quarter of the calendar year. Included in the calendar shall be: course title, dates of training, time of classes and location.(3) Maximum class size for mandatory in-service courses shall be established by the Commission and based on course content.(4) Mandatory in-service training courses are subject to inspection by a Commission inspector. (i) Certification of instructors may be withdrawn after notice and an opportunity to be heard under Subchapter G (relating to notice and hearings), for one or more of the following reasons: (A) Failing to present the full program.(B) Teaching improper or incorrect material or not presenting the Commission program.(D) Inadequate preparation for class.(E) Being intoxicated in class.(F) Using inappropriate language.(ii) Withdrawal of mandatory in-service instructor certification by a Commission inspector shall be reviewed by the Commission and the instructor's certification may be subject to revocation by the Commission under § 203.73 (relating to revocation of instructor certification).(iii) Classes may be suspended immediately during an inspection by a Commission inspector for cause. Costs for classes suspended during an inspection for cause will not be paid by the Commission.(5) Acceptance into classes for which reimbursement is to be requested from the Commission shall be limited to currently employed police officers and county detectives. A fee may not be charged to these individuals for any program paid for by the Commission.(6) Only examinations provided by the Commission shall be used to determine successful completion of academic requirements for these courses. Minimum passing scores shall be determined by the Commission for each examination. The Commission will publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and in the Commission newsletter whenever the minimum passing scores required in the basic training course changes.(7) An individual failing to pass the examination to be administered at the end of a course shall be given the opportunity for reexamination by the course instructor. The reexamination process shall consist of a review of course objectives, content and course summary, prior to an orally administered reexamination utilizing a different examination from the failed examination. If an individual fails the reexamination, a written notice of failure shall immediately be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the employing municipality. An individual failing both the examination, and the reexamination for a course, shall be permitted to participate in another offering of the course, if the individual continues to be a currently employed police officer.(8) The certified school, and the course instructors, will be held responsible by the Commission for proper administration of in-service training courses, including maintenance of proper examination security.(9) Newly certified police officers may not be required to participate in the mandatory in-service training courses in the year they were certified.(10) Municipalities may request extensions of time from the Commission for officers unable to complete in-service training enumerated within the time frame. The request shall be filed with the Commission and include justification for the extension. This section cited in 37 Pa. Code § 203.13 (relating to certification as a municipal police officer); and 37 Pa. Code § 203.73 (relating to revocation of instructor certification).