Law Enforcement Officer

Exam

State exam

Education

Specific course

Experience

Current employment

Background check

Felony convictions prohibited

“Law Enforcement Officer” as recognized by the Commission for certification will be an appointed law enforcement officer who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal, traffic or highway laws of this state, excluding only those officers who are elected by a vote of the people. (3) Every officer employed by a law enforcement agency shall: (a) Be a citizen of the United States or a nonimmigrant legally admitted to the United States under the Compact of Free Association (Marshall Islands). (b) Be at least 21 years of age. (c) Be fingerprinted and a search initiated of state and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record. (d) Be free of a felony record. A felony record means having entered a plea of guilty, been found guilty, or otherwise having been convicted of an offense, the punishment for which could have been imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or a state penitentiary. The fact that an individual has received a pardon, or their record has been expunged shall not release the individual from having a felony record for the purposes of this rule. (e) Be of good character as determined by a thorough background investigation (f) Be a high school graduate or have passed the General Education Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level. Home school diplomas will not substitute for the above unless approved by the Commission. (g) Be examined by a licensed physician and meet the physical requirements. (h) Be interviewed personally prior to employment by the department head or their representative, or representatives to determine such things as the applicant’s motivation, appearance, demeanor, attitude, and ability to communicate. Commission Form F-11, Qualifications Appraisal Guide, or other appropriate form may be used to record the interview. (i) Be examined by an individual licensed to practice psychiatry or psychology and qualified to perform such evaluations in the State of Arkansas, who after examination finds the law enforcement officer to be competent and recommends the law enforcement agency hire the individual. (j) Possess a valid driver’s license. (k) Successfully complete a CLEST firearms qualification and review departmental policies, specifically policies covering the use of force, criminal law, and emergency vehicle operations. (No law enforcement officer may carry a firearm in the course of employment or in the performance of official duties until this requirement is met and reported, in a manner adopted by the Commission, to the Office of Law Enforcement Standards.) (l) For continued employment, must successfully complete a minimum of twenty four (24) hours of CLEST approved training annually (to include firearms qualification, duty to intervene training, and 4 hours of racial profiling.) (m) Be free of a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction, in accordance with 18 USC section 922,