Chapter 6
Introduction
Localities having a police department which complies with the Code of Virginia and who are receiving funds commonly referred to as “599 funds” must acknowledge that law-enforcement personnel employed as full-time, part-time or auxiliary officers by the locality have met the training requirements promulgated by the Criminal Justice Services Board. Sections § 9.1-114 and §15.2-1731 of the Code of Virginia identify those police officers who must comply with some form of training promulgated by the Criminal Justice Services Board including compensated full time and part-time officers as well as non-compensated auxiliary police officers. (See Chapter 1 –Code Authority)
Section 1 - Training, Records Maintenance and Reporting Requirements for Part-time Officers
- All part-time officers working eighty-one (81) or more compensated hours a year must comply with all entry level law-enforcement training requirements. Each agency administrator shall report the appointment of all those officers working eighty-one (81) or more compensated hours on a Form 21 as provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Services within ten (10) days of appointment.
- Part-time officers working eighty (80) or fewer compensated hours a year must comply with the entry level law-enforcement firearms training requirements and receive on-going in-service firearms training if a firearm is carried in the performance of duty. It is the responsibility of the appointing law-enforcement agency to maintain the firearms training records of those officers who are required to comply with basic firearms training and on-going in-service firearms training.
Section 2 - Establishment of Auxiliary Police Forces § 15.2-1731
A. Legislation passed by the 2012 General Assembly and approved by the Governor amending §9.1-102 required DCJS to “Establish compulsory minimum training standards for all auxiliary police officers employed by or in any local or state government agency”. DCJS recognizes the important role auxiliary officers play in providing a safe community as well as the commitment and dedication these officers demonstrate on a daily basis. The training standards for auxiliary police officers are graduated and based upon their level of responsibility as identified by the Auxiliary Police Task Force.
- Each member of the Auxiliary Police shall be governed by the policies and procedures of the Department.
- The Auxiliary Police officer may have law-enforcement powers equivalent to those of paid officers. Membership in the Auxiliary Police will be open to all individuals who meet the same minimum qualifications as full-time officers under §15.2-1705. There shall be no discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex or religious affiliation in selection or assignment of Auxiliary Police officers.
- The responsibility and liability for the Auxiliary Police program in its entirety is the responsibility of the compensated Chief of Police (9.1-115).
B. Levels of Auxiliary Police Officers
There are four levels for Auxiliary Police Officers recognized by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
Level One: Certified police officer who has met all training requirements required of full time officers (6VAC20-20-21 and §15.2-1706) and in accordance with the attached matrix.
Level Two: Sworn officer with limited duties, may be armed with firearm(s) and has met all training requirements in accordance with the attached matrix. Level Two Auxiliary Officers shall not be permitted to carry or use a firearm while serving as an auxiliary police officer unless such officer has met the firearms training requirements established in accordance with in-service training standards for law-enforcement officers as prescribed by the Criminal Justice Services Board.
Level Three: Sworn officer with limited duties, may be armed with less-than-lethal weapon(s) and has met all training requirements in accordance with the attached matrix. Auxiliary Officers of this level are strictly prohibited from carrying a firearm, whether department or personally owned, while serving as an auxiliary police officer.
Level Four: Sworn officer with duties limited to providing transportation for such person subject to an emergency custody order pursuant to § 37.2-808 of the Code of Virginia or to provide transportation for a person in the temporary detention process pursuant to § 37.2-810 of the Code of Virginia. This officer may be armed with firearm(s) and has met all training requirements in accordance with the attached matrix. Level Four Auxiliary Officers shall not be permitted to carry or use a firearm while serving as an auxiliary police officer unless such officer has met the firearms training requirements established in accordance with in-service training standards for law-enforcement officers as prescribed by the Criminal Justice Services Board.
Section 3 - Training, Records Maintenance and Reporting Requirements for Auxiliary Officers
A. Employment Records:
The agency employing auxiliary police officers is required within ten working days of employment to notify the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) by the submission of DCJS Form 21. Agencies are also required to notify the Department of Criminal Justice Services within ten working days if the auxiliary officer has a status change by the submission of DCJS Form 31.
B. Level One Initial Training:
Must complete all mandated training (6VAC20-20-21) the same as full time officers, successfully pass the law enforcement state certification exam and complete a minimum of 100 hours of field training (Form B-13) within one year of initial employment. All documentation must be submitted to DCJS the same as full time officers. All training must be conducted at a certified academy or a DCJS approved satellite facility.
C. Level One In-Service Requirements:
Level One auxiliary police officers must complete 34 hours of career development, 2 hours of cultural diversity and 4 hours legal prior to December 31stevery two years from initial certification. In-service training must be completed at a certified academy or a DCJS approved satellite facility. Documentation of completion must be reported to DCJS the same as full time officers.
D. Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four Initial Training:
Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four auxiliary police officers are required to meet all applicable performance outcomes listed in the Auxiliary Police Training Matrix (See Below) within one year of initial employment. There are no minimum hours required for completion for each performance category and previous training can be used after verification from the chief of police or agency administrator. The training must be instructed at a certified academy, DCJS approved satellite facility or in-house within their individual agency. The chief of police providing in-house auxiliary training may decide not to train his officers on an objective if such training does not apply to the officer’s assigned duties. Levels Two, Three, and Four trained by their employing agency cannot use such training as credit toward Level One certification. Levels Two, Three, and Four trained by a certified academy or a DCJS approved satellite facility can apply for such credit. Levels Two, Three, and Four trained by their employing agency cannot transfer the in-house training to any other another agency. It is the responsibility of the compensated chief of police to affirm the auxiliary police officer has met the requirements for Levels Two, Three, and Four and report completion of initial training in DCJS’s record management system. DCJS Forms A-2 (Level Two auxiliary police officers) A-3 (Level Three auxiliary police officers) and A-4 (Level Four auxiliary police officers) are for in-house documentation by the employing agency and must remain on file with the agency and is subject to DCJS inspection.
E. Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four Field Training Requirements:
Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four auxiliary police officers are required to complete field training within one year of initial employment before they can be designated as a Level Two, Level Three, or Level Four auxiliary police officer. There are no minimum hours required for these levels, see attached matrix for applicable categories. All documentation of such agency training must remain on file with the agency and is subject to DCJS inspection. It is the responsibility of the compensated Chief of Police to affirm the auxiliary police officer has met the corresponding field training requirements for Level Two, Level Three, or Level Four and forward a copy of the completed field training form (Form B-13) to etrain@dcjs.virginia.gov.
F. Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four In-Service Requirements:
Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four auxiliary police officers, must complete 8 hours of career development, 2 hours of cultural diversity and 4 hours legal prior to December 31st every two years from initial designation as a Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four. In-service training must be completed at a certified academy, DCJS approved satellite facility or in-house. All documentation of such agency training must remain on file with the agency and is subject to DCJS inspection. It is the responsibility of the compensated chief of police to affirm the auxiliary police officer has met the In-Service requirements for Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four and report completion of in-service training in DCJS’s record management system.
G. Firearms Annual Training:
Level One, Level Two, and Level Four auxiliary police officers required to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties shall qualify annually using the applicable firearms course approved by the Committee on Training of the board. Annual range qualification shall include a review of issues/policy relating to weapons safety, nomenclature, maintenance and use of force. With prior approval of the director, a reasonable modification of the firearms course may be approved to accommodate qualification on indoor ranges. No minimum number of hours is required (6VAC20-30-80). All documentation of such agency training must remain on file with the agency and is subject to DCJS inspection.
H. Use of Force Regulations:
Each auxiliary police officer whether armed or unarmed must receive annual refresher training on the agency lethal/less-than-lethal use of force policy(s). All documentation of such training must remain on file with the agency and is subject to DCJS inspection.
I. Instructorships for Auxiliary Law Enforcement Officers:
DCJS Instructorships will only be considered for Level 1 Auxiliary Law Enforcement Officers and only on a case-by-case basis following a review of the officer's law enforcement experience and training. Levels Two, Three, and Four Auxiliary Officers are not eligible for DCJS certified instructorships. Criminal Justice Academies may establish auxiliary law enforcement officers as "subject matter experts" upon prior training and experience. Documentation of this status must be kept on file at the academy and available for inspection.
AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS |
Level of Auxiliary Police Officer Responsibility | Professionalism | Legal Issues | Communication | Patrol | Investigations | Defensive Tactics | Weapons Use | Driver Training | Field Training | Timeline | Training Location |
Level 1 | |||||||||||
Capable of all normal duties (certified) | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | 12 months ** | Academy or DCJS-approved satellite facility |
Level 2 | |||||||||||
Limited duties; sworn, armed with firearm | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Meet all Objectives EXCEPT4.16, 4.24, 4.30, 4.31, 4.32 and 4.53 | Meet all Objectives EXCEPT 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.13, 5.14, 5.15 and 5.16 | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | Yes, if applicable | Complete to level of responsibility | 12 months ** | Academy, DCJS-approved satellite facility, or in-house |
Level 3 | |||||||||||
Limited duties; sworn, armed with less-than-lethal weapons only | Meet all objectives | Meet objectives: 2.1, 2.6, 2.14, 2.22, 2.25, 2.27, 2.30, 2.36, 2.38, & 2.41-2.46 | Meet objectives: 3.1-3.11, 3.13 & 3.14 | Meet objectives: 4.42, 4.43, 4.44, 4.52, 4.54 and 4.56 | N/A | Meet objectives: 6.5, 6.8, 6.10-6.14, 6.16, 6.17 & 6.18 | N/A | Yes, if applicable | Complete to level of responsibility | 12 months ** | Academy, DCJS-approved satellite facility, or in-house |
Level 4 | |||||||||||
Limited duties; sworn, armed with firearm | N/A | Meet Objectives 2.7, 2.36, and 2.42 | Meet Objectives 3.9 and 3.10 | N/A | N/A | Meet all objectives | Meet all objectives | N/A | Complete to level of responsibility | 12 months ** | Academy, DCJS-approved satellite facility, or in-house |
Objectives are the compulsory minimum training requirements for entry level law enforcement officers. | |||||||||||
* Driver training is optional if the duties of the auxiliary officer do not require operation of a law enforcement vehicle | |||||||||||
** §15.2-1731 – Any such officer shall have one (1) year following the approval by the Board to comply with the compulsory minimum training standard. |