Rule 28-In-Service Training Program
Effective January31, 2016

The purpose of in-service training is to provide continuing education to certified peace officers to develop their knowledge and/or skills. The annual in-service training program is defined in Colorado Revised Statutes §24-31-303 (l) and states that the POST Board can “promulgate rules deemed necessary by the Board concerning annual in-service training requirements for certified peace officers, including but not limited to evaluation of the training program and processes to ensure substantial compliance by law enforcement agencies and departments.” In- service training is mandatory for certified peace officers who are currently employed in positions requiring certified peace officers as defined in Colorado Revised
Statutes section 16-2.5-102. This includes certified fulltime, part-time and reserve peace officers.

(a)	Annual Hour Requirement

The in-service training program requires certified peace officers to complete a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training annually. Of the 24 hours, a minimum of 12 hours shall be perishable skills training as specified below.

(b)	Training Period

The training period shall be the calendar year, from January 1 to December
31, of each year. In-service training in excess of 24 hours each year shall not be credited towards any future or prior training period.

(c)	Approved Training for POST Credit

The authority and responsibility for training shall be with the chief executive of each law enforcement agency. The chief executive accepts responsibility and liability for the course content and instructor qualification. Legislatively mandated training may also be used for credit towards the training requirement.

The following are examples of training that would qualify for in-service credit:

(I)	Training received during the Basic Academic Training Program
(Basic Academy).

(II)	Computer or web-based courses that have been approved by the chief executive officer may be used for in-service credit.

(III)	The viewing of law enforcement related audiovisual material (DVD, video, etc.) or material related to the viewer’s position or rank can be used in conjunction with a facilitated discussion or other presentation. This could include roll call or lineup briefings where the session is dedicated to training and not for the purpose of information exchange.

(IV)	For each class hour attended at an accredited college or university in any course related to law enforcement or criminal justice that is required to earn a degree, one hour of in-service credit may be awarded. 

(d)	Perishable Skills Training

Perishable skills training shall consist of a minimum of 12 hours. The minimum 12 hours must include all three of the perishable skills (Arrest Control, Driving, and Firearms) each calendar year. Examples of perishable skills training could include:

(I)	Firearms-live or simulator exercises and scenarios, firearms fundamentals, use of force training or discussions, classroom training requiring student interaction and/or decision making, classroom discussion on agency policies and/or legal issue.

(II)	Arrest Control-live or simulator exercises and scenarios, classroom discussion followed by interactive scenario events. Arrest control fundamentals, agency policies and/or legal issues.

(III)	Driving-behind-the-wheel or simulator training, classroom discussion regarding judgment/decision making in driving, agency policies and/or legal issues.

(e)	Agency Maintenance of Training Records

The chief executive of each agency is responsible for the accurate tracking of training attendance into the POST records management system.

At the end of each calendar year, agencies shall have accurately entered all training for the certified peace officers employed at any time during the year regardless of current employment status. This information shall be entered into the POST records management system.

(I)	Waiver of In-Service Requirements

All certified peace officers shall meet the minimum annual hours. However, under circumstances listed below, an agency may request a waiver for a portion of the annual in-service training requirement. Any waiver of the annual training request must be made in writing to
the POST Director prior to the end of the calendar year (December 31).

(A)	Perishable Skills Waiver

Agency executives may request an exemption from the perishable skills training requirement. This request shall be in writing to the POST Director. This request shall state that either their certified peace officers do not carry firearms, or they infrequently interact with or effect physical arrests, or they do not utilize marked or unmarked emergency vehicles as part of their normal duties.

(B)	Partial Year Employment Waiver

The 24 hours of in-service training is required if a certified peace officer is employed for the entire calendar year. Certified peace officers who are employed after the start of the calendar year only need to complete a prorated number of training hours. Therefore, one hour per month of regular training and one hour
a month of perishable skills training shall be required.
(Example: If a certified peace officer is hired in July, six hours of regular training and six hours of perishable skills training should be completed for that calendar year).

(C)	Long Term Disability, Medical Leave or Restricted Duty

If a certified peace officer is unable to complete the in-service annual hours due to long term disability, medical leave or restricted duty, the agency must obtain a letter from a physician stating that participation in any type of training including audiovisual or online training would be detrimental to the officer’s health.  The letter should define the time that the officer is unable to attend any training. Those granted a waiver will be on a prorated basis for the time stated in the physician’s letter. The agency does not need to forward the physician’s letter to POST but only reference it in a waiver request.

(D)	Military Leave

Those certified peace officers deployed in military service only need to complete a prorated number of training hours.

(II)	Compliance

(A)	Agencies are required to be in compliance with the in-service program.

(B)	POST will send out a preliminary compliance report following each training period. The report will provide the compliance status of each agency and its certified peace officers. Agencies shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the preliminary report to dispute the POST data and provide additional training information. Following the thirty-day period, POST will distribute the final compliance reports to all agencies.

(C)	Once the final compliance report has been sent to all agencies; an agency seeking to appeal the POST data must do so within thirty (30) days of being notified of failure to comply with Rule 28.  Agencies may appeal this by following the process outlined in Rule 5-Hearings.  Upon conclusion of all appeal hearings POST will issue a final report indicating whether the agency was found in compliance.  If upon the final decision by POST the agency was found not compliant, all POST funding (region grant funds, continuing education funds, and marijuana funds) to that agency will be suspended from July 1st through December 31st of the same calendar year.  

(D)	The POST Board shall evaluate the program annually following the release of the final compliance reports. Such evaluation will include a review and evaluation of the program. The evaluation may be based on the compliance rate, agency survey and other performance metrics. Agencies shall complete an annual training evaluation survey as part of the substantial compliance measurement by February 1 of each year.