GENERAL NOTICE 01-05
To: Chief Law Enforcement Officers
Training Officers
Protective Services
Resident Troopers
From: T. William Knapp
Executive Director
Date: October 12, 2001
Subject: Revised Entry-Level Standards New Hire, Lateral Entry and Comparative Certification
The Police Officer Standards and Training Council has revised its Regulations of State Agencies, in particular, 7-294e-1, 7-294e-2 and 7-294e-16(j) as required by statute. These revisions were completed, reviewed and passed into law on September 17, 2001. The Regulations have been posted on our website (www.post.state.ct.us) for your review. If you do not have access to our website, you may write to our agency and request a copy. In general the changes made were to clearly define the definitions in 7-294e-1 (a) (1, 2, 3 and 4) plus establishing the requirements for Lateral Transfers and Certificate of Comparative Compliance.
Section 7-294e-2. Eligibility for Lateral Certification or Comparative Certification.
(a) A candidate for lateral certification to a position as a police officer in any law enforcement unit within the state shall meet all council entry level requirements. The candidate shall also satisfactorily complete a council approved police basic training program, except when the last appointment to a similar position was:
(1) Within the state of Connecticut, and
(2) Followed by at least two years of continuous service as a certified police officer, and
(3) Interrupted by not more than two years' absence from the law enforcement unit where last appointed. In unusual cases, a request for waiver of the requirement of mandatory training may be forwarded by the chief law enforcement officer of the law enforcement unit concerned, to the council, giving all pertinent information.
(b) A candidate for comparative certification to a position as a police officer in any law enforcement unit within the state shall satisfactorily meet all council entry level requirements. The candidate shall also complete a council approved police basic training program, except when the last appointment to a similar position was:
(1) Followed by at least two years of continuous service as a certified police officer, and
(2) Interrupted by not more than two years' absence from the law enforcement unit where last appointed, and
(3) The applicant passes an examination or evaluation as required by the council.
(c) A candidate for comparative certification or lateral certification to any position other than that of an entry level police officer position shall not be required by the council to meet entry level standards in subsections (e) and (n) of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies.
1. As you can see by the regulation above, a person who is hired by an agency (Probationary Candidate), put through the Academy and the Field Training Program cannot do a lateral transfer to another agency for two years after obtaining certification. If another agency should hire the individual, then it would require the new agency to return the individual to the academy and through another 400-hour FTO program. (This can be waived in unusual cases (lay-off, department disband, etc.).
2. When a person is hired on a lateral transfer to another agency for an entry level position, the individual must meet all entry level standards (7-294e-16) including the physical fitness (n) requirement at the 40% level. The POST Council staff must perform this test at the Connecticut Police Academy, by appointment, prior to hiring. This is a free service with no cost to the agency.
3. An individual who is to be hired under a Certificate of Comparative Compliance must meet all entry level requirements(7-294e-16) including the physical fitness (n) requirement at the 40% level. The POST Council staff must perform this test at the Connecticut Police Academy, by appointment, prior to hiring. This is a free service with no cost to the agency.
4. A person hired for a Certificate of Comparative Compliance or Lateral entry to a position other than that of entry level police officer position can apply for a waiver of entry level requirements (e) and (n).
5. The modification to 7-294e-16(j) was for clarification of who can do psychological examinations.
6.A new "ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT - NEW / LATERAL / COMPARATIVE" form has been enclosed in the notice for your use. All old forms will not be accepted after mailing of this notice.
Although these regulations became effective September 17, 2001, individuals who were in the process of a comparative certification or a lateral entry after completing the requirement of years can complete the process. Notice should have been given to the Certification Unit prior to October 23, 2001. If there are any questions, please contact Gary Pfeifer, Compliance Officer at (203) 238-6694 during normal business hours.