Washington Peace Officer Certification
Prepared by Doug Blair, Peace Officer Certification Manager
Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission
January 11, 2006
RCW 43.101.200(1) requires all newly hired peace officers, except volunteers, and reserve officers, to engage in basic law enforcement training which complies with the standards adopted by the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). Persons hired as peace officers have six months from the beginning of employment to commence basic law enforcement training.
How does this law affect my city/town?
This law took effect on January 1, 2002. It requires that every person who is employed as a fully commissioned peace officer be certified as a Washington Peace Officer. This is a condition of continuing employment. Your agency must report a peace officer's employment and termination to the Commission within 15 days of the action. This is stated in RCW 43.101.135. The form is available on the CJTC web site.
How does an officer become certified?
The requirements for certification are contained in RCW 43.101.095. Every person who receives a conditional offer of employment as a fully commissioned peace officer must successfully pass a polygraph test and psychological examination. That person, if employed, must commence basic training during the first six months of employment. Officers must successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) as a condition of certification. The BLEA consists of 720 hours.
What if the officer has already attended a BLEA in this state or in another state?
The requirements for the psychological examination and the polygraph are the same as a person who has not attended an academy. The difference is that the officer must attend the next available Equivalent Law Enforcement Academy (2 weeks) unless the academy is scheduled within the first 60 days of the officer's employment, in which case the officer must attend the next available Equivalency. If the officer fails to meet these training requirements, they cannot be certified, and therefore cannot be employed as a police officer.
Can I hire a "provisional employee" as a police officer?
You can, however if you hire that person as a fully commissioned police officer, regardless of the number of hours they work, they must be certified within the time lines outlined in the above paragraphs. There are no exceptions for fully commissioned officers who work part time.
Can an officer be certified without attending the training?
A peace officer in an administrative position with an agency of more than 10 commissioned officers can apply to the Commission for an Administrative Exemption. This exemption, if granted, limits the enforcement activities of the exempted person to exigent circumstances. Both the exemption and the certification lapse if the officer leaves the position for which the exemption was granted. This exemption is allowed by rule in WAC 139-05-200 section (i).
Who can decertify an officer?
Only the Commission can revoke or deny the certification of a police officer. If an officer is under an internal investigation, or resigns or retires in anticipation of disciplinary action whether or not it is discovered at the time of the officer resigns, and would more likely than not have resulted in the officer being terminated, the activity must be reported to the commission at the time the notice of termination is submitted. This can be done by checking the "Yes" box on the form. An investigation will be conducted by the Commission to determine if action is warranted to revoke the officer's certification. Your agency will be advised of the decision.
Doug can be contacted by e-mail at dblair@cjtc.state.wa.us or by phone at 1-509-230-1280. Also visit the Commission's web-site . Additional information and forms are available under "peace officer certification".