R728-502. Procedure for POST Instructor Certification, R728. Public Safety, Peace Officer Standards and Training, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R728. Public Safety, Peace Officer Standards and Training

R728-502. Procedure for POST Instructor Certification

R728-502-1. Authority

Latest version.

This rule is authorized by Subsection 53-6-105(1)(k), which provides that the director shall, with the advice of the council, make rules necessary to administer Title 53 Chapter 6.

R728-502-2. Purpose

Latest version.

The purpose of this rule is to provide guidelines for the certification of training instructors and to establish standards for the revocation of POST instructor certification pursuant to Section 53-6-105(1)(c).

R728-502-3. Definitions

Latest version.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 53-6-102.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Annual statutory training" means the annual training requirement for peace officers and dispatchers as established in Sections 53-6-202 or 53-6-306;

(b) "Applicant" means an individual who has applied to become a POST certified instructor;

(c) "Basic training" means the basic training courses offered by the division or one of the satellite academies, which are required to become a:

(i) special function officer;

(ii) correctional officer;

(iii) law enforcement officer; or

(iv) dispatcher;

(d) "DT" means defensive tactics;

(e) "EVO" means emergency vehicle operation;

(f) "IW" means impact weapon;

(g) "In-service training" has the same meaning as annual statutory training;

(h) "K9" means canine;

(i) "POST certified instructor" means an individual who has completed the requirements set forth in this rule and is authorized by the division to conduct basic training courses;

(j) "Satellite academy" means a certified academy or training program administered by a governmental entity or institution of higher education which is established primarily for the training of its employees or self-sponsored applicants; and

(k) "Specialty instructor" means an individual who has completed the requirements set forth in this rule and is authorized by the division to conduct specific practical skill training courses.

R728-502-4. POST Certified Instructors Authority and Duties

Latest version.

(1) A POST certified instructor shall be authorized to teach classes sponsored by the division including basic training, in-service, and regional classes.

(2) An instructor presenting in-service training must be in harmony with the division's current basic training curriculum.

(3) An instructor presenting basic training classes must follow the basic training student performance objectives approved by the division and the council.

(a) If POST approved student performance objectives are not available for the subject matter, an instructor shall have a lesson plan approved by the division prior to teaching in a basic training class.

R728-502-5. Instructor Certification Requirements

Latest version.

(1) An applicant must meet the following requirements before being certified as an instructor:

(a) have two years of experience as a full-time peace officer or dispatcher;

(b) receive a recommendation from the chief administrative officer of the agency employing the applicant; and

(2) The requirements in this Subsection (1) may be waived if the applicant has specialized training or expertise in an area which, in the opinion of the director, would be beneficial in the training of law enforcement officers.

(a) An individual wishing to qualify for instructor certification wavier under this Subsection (2), must submit a written request to the director providing evidence of their specialized training or experience and justification as to why this training or experience would be beneficial in the training of law enforcement officers.

R728-502-6. Instructor Recertification

Latest version.

(1) Instructor recertification is not required except in specialty areas as provided in Section R728-502-9.

(2) An instructor teaching in a professional specialty area, including but not limited to, law classes, first aid, CPR, intoxilyzer, and chemical munitions, shall maintain current certification and continuing education requirements of the respective professional certification or licensing entity.

(3) An instructor teaching in other specialty areas may be subject to industry standards that establish specific recertification requirements.

R728-502-7. Application for Instructor Certification

Latest version.

(1) To obtain a POST instructor certification, an applicant shall submit a completed application for POST Instructor Development School to the division and include the following:

(a) documentation of years of experience;

(b) a letter of recommendation from the applicant's chief administrative officer; and

(2) If the application is approved, the applicant shall be invited to attend a POST instructor development course.

(3) An applicant shall receive POST instructor certification upon successfully completing the instructor development course, which includes demonstrating to the course instructor the ability to develop a lesson plan following the style and format taught in the instructor development course.

R728-502-8. Agency In-Service Instructors

Latest version.

(1) An agency is not required to utilize POST certified instructors for in-service training programs presented to members of their agency, which will allow the agency to formulate training programs designed to meet their needs utilizing local resources.

(2) If a POST certified instructor is not used for in-service training programs, the chief administrative officer of the agency sponsoring the training shall be solely responsible for the content of the class and the qualifications of the instructor.

R728-502-9. Specialty Instructors

Latest version.

(1) An instructor who teaches practical skills and technical or high liability law enforcement subjects shall attend a specialty instructor course as provided in this Section.

(2) An instructor who completes a specialty instructor school may only instruct the specific skills covered in the specialty instructor school.

(a) An instructor who teaches other academic courses in the classroom shall complete a POST approved instructor development course as provided in Sections R728-502-4 through R728-502-7.

(3) An EVO instructor shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure.

(a) EVO instructor certification shall be valid for three years from the date of issue.

(b) An EVO instructor must teach EVO for a minimum of 40 hours every three years in order to maintain certification.

(c) An EVO instructor must teach at least 20 of the 40 required hours at the POST EVO range under the direction of the POST EVO training supervisor.

(d) An EVO instructor may teach the remaining 20 hours of EVO instruction at individual agencies.

(4) A firearms instructor, including handgun instructor or rifle instructor, shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure.

(a) Firearms instructor certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.

(b) A firearms instructor must attend an eight hour recertification class conducted by POST and pass a practical examination every three years in order to maintain certification.

(5) A DT instructor shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure;

(a) DT instructor certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.

(b) A DT instructor must attend a POST defensive tactics instructor training course and successfully pass a practical and written examination every three years in order to maintain certification.

(6) An IW instructor shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure.

(a) IW instructor certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.

(b) An IW instructor must attend an impact weapon instructor training course and successfully pass a practical and written examination every three years in order to maintain certification.

(7) A K-9 instructor shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure.

(a) A K-9 instructor may conduct K-9 training, but is not authorized to conduct K-9 certification evaluations.

(b) K-9 instructor certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.

(c) A K-9 instructor shall attend 40 hours of K-9 instructor training and successfully pass a practical examination every three years in order to maintain certification

(8) A K-9 judge shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure.

(a) A K-9 judge shall be trained and certified as a K-9 instructor prior to being certified as a K-9 judge.

(b) A K-9 judge may conduct K-9 certification evaluations and K-9 training.

(d) A K-9 judge shall attend 40 hours of K-9 judge training and successfully pass a practical examination every three years in order to maintain certification.

(e) A K-9 judge who successfully re-certifies is automatically re-certified as a K-9 instructor.

(9) RADAR/LIDAR instructors shall be trained and certified in accordance with POST policy and procedure;

(a) RADAR/LIDAR instructor certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.

(b) A RADAR/LIDAR instructor shall participate in one RADAR/LIDAR instructor school and successfully pass a written examination every three years in order to maintain certification.

R728-502-10. Revocation of Instructor Certification

Latest version.

(1) The division may revoke an individual POST instructor certification if the instructor fails to meet any of the requirements specified in this rule.

(2)(a) If the division revokes an individual's POST instructor certification, the division shall issue a letter to the individual by regular mail.

(b) The letter shall state the reasons for termination of the individual's POST instructor certification and indicate that the individual has a right to appeal the decision to the director by filing a written request for review within 30 days from the date of the division's decision.

(3) An instructor whose peace officer or dispatcher certification is suspended or revoked by the POST Council, in accordance with Section 53-6-211 or Section 53-6-309, shall also have his or her POST instructor certification revoked or suspended for the period of time his or her peace officer or dispatcher certification is suspended.