Minimum Standards for a Certified Basic Training Course

PURPOSE: This rule identifies the minimum standards for a certified basic training course. (1) There shall be two (2) types of basic training courses— (A) Recruit courses, which shall deliver an entire mandatory basic training curriculum, and which shall be designed to qualify a previously untrained person for a new peace officer license pursuant to 11 CSR 7513.020; and (B) Upgrade courses, which shall deliver a portion of a mandatory basic training curriculum, and which shall be designed, either singly or in combination with other upgrade courses, to qualify a licensed peace officer for a license upgrade pursuant to 11 CSR 7513.030. (2) The procedure for delivering a basic training course shall be as follows: (A) The training center director shall verify that each trainee is qualified pursuant to 11 CSR 75-14.060; (B) At least fifteen (15) days before the start of the course, the training center director shall— 1. Cause each trainee to complete a Missouri peace officer license legal questionnaire, which the training center director shall review; 2. Cause each trainee to submit to being fingerprinted in a manner approved by the Missouri State Highway Patrol pursuant to section 43.543, RSMo, to determine if the applicant has a criminal history record on file with the Missouri criminal records repository or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The fee associated with being fingerprinted in this manner shall be the responsibility of the applicant; and 3. Report to the director the existence of any known fact or circumstance that might constitute cause for the director to disqualify any trainee from receiving a peace officer license, in which case the training center director shall obtain a waiver from the director before admitting the trainee into the course; (C) The training center director shall deny entry into the course or shall expel from the course any trainee that the director determines to be unqualified pursuant to 11 CSR 75-14.060 or section 590.100, RSMo; (D) At least ten (10) days before the start of the course, the training center director shall notify the director of the course start date, end date, class schedule including the instructor of each class, location, and the date on which graduates will be administered the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam; (E) On or before first day of the training course, the training center director shall provide to each trainee a copy of all training center polices and procedures relating to trainees, including grading and class makeup policies; (F) The training center director may dismiss for cause any trainee before graduation, in which case the training center director shall immediately notify the director. The training center director shall provide the reason for the dismissal to the director. Dismissal by the training center director shall not be subject to appeal pursuant to these rules or Chapter 590, RSMo; (G) No later than thirty-five (35) days before graduation, the training center director shall cause each trainee to submit to the director a peace officer license application; (H) The training center director shall determine whether each trainee shall graduate from the course pursuant to 11 CSR 7514.050(7) and training center policies. A graduation determination by the training center director shall not be subject to appeal pursuant to these rules or Chapter 590, RSMo; (I) No later than ten (10) days after graduation, the training center director shall forward to the director a list of graduates containing the final score for each trainee; and (J) Upon request of a training center director, the director may waive or modify any time period specified in this rule. (3) The instruction of every objective of a mandatory basic training curriculum shall be performed— (A) According to a certified lesson plan; and (B) By a licensed instructor, as follows: 1. An objective designated to be taught only by a particular type of specialist instructor shall be taught only by such specialist; 2. An objective designated to be taught only by a particular type of specialist instructor with a valid, current third-party or secondary license shall be taught only by such specialist; and 3. All other objectives may be taught either by a generalist instructor or by a specialist instructor licensed for that objective. (4) No single instructor shall deliver more than thirty percent (30%) of the total contact hours of a mandatory basic training curriculum. (5) A basic training course may include supplemental training that is not part of the mandatory basic training curriculum. A basic training center director may elect to add supplemental training to any basic training course. Supplemental training shall be consistent with generally accepted law enforcement practices, shall not be contrary to public safety, and shall not be unreasonably dangerous to the safety of trainees. Supplemental training may be taught by a licensed or unlicensed instructor. Supplemental training shall not be certified by the director, but the director may monitor supplemental training for compliance with this rule. (6) Trainees shall be graded as follows: (A) A trainee shall be tested for mastery of each subject area in the appropriate mandatory curriculum. A written or practical examination may test more than one (1) subject area simultaneously. 1. Mastery of firearms shall be tested by practical examination and scored on a numerical scale from zero (0) to one hundred (100). Supplemental written examinations are permitted, but the overall firearms score required for graduation pursuant to paragraph (7)(C)4. of this rule shall be based solely upon the practical examinations. The final grade of the firearms practical examination may, at the discretion of the training center director, be recorded as a pass or fail. 2. Mastery of defensive tactics, physical fitness, driver training, and any other basic training subject areas requiring a trainee to perform a demonstrative skill as determined by the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission shall be tested by practical examination and may be graded on a numerical scale from zero (0) to one hundred (100) or on a pass/fail basis. Supplemental written examinations are permitted. 3. Mastery of all other subject areas shall be tested by written or practical examination and shall be graded on a numerical scale from zero (0) to one hundred (100). Pass/fail grading is not permitted; (B) A trainee who achieves less than seventy percent (70%) on any written examination may, at the discretion of the training center director, retake the examination one (1) time. The highest score that may be awarded on a retake examination is seventy percent (70%), or if the minimum passing score of the program of study being used is greater than seventy percent (70%), that minimum passing score may be awarded; (C) A trainee who achieves a failing score on an objective graded on a pass/fail basis may, at the discretion of the training center director, reattempt the objective one (1) time; (D) A trainee who achieves less than seventy percent (70%) on the firearms practical examination may, at the discretion of the training center director, retake the practical examination one (1) time. The highest score that may be awarded on a retake examination is seventy percent (70%), or if the minimum passing score of the program of study being used is greater than seventy percent (70%), that minimum passing score may be awarded; (E) The weighing of each exam in calculating a trainee’s overall score shall be determined by the training center policy before the start of the training course; (F) The determination to grade an objective pass/fail shall be made before the start of the training course; (G) The determination to allow a trainee to retake a written or a practical examination, or the reattempt of an objective graded on a pass/fail basis, shall be made before the start of the training course and the same standard shall apply to all trainees; and (H) A trainee who fails any written examination, or who fails to achieve a passing grade on an objective graded on a pass/fail basis, or who fails to achieve a passing score on the firearms practical examination, may be afforded an opportunity to complete remedial training prior to retaking any written or practical examination. The training center director shall inform the trainee prior to commencing any examination or reexamination and it shall be clear to the trainee that all remedial training, if offered, has concluded. (7) To be eligible for graduation from a basic training course, a trainee shall, at a minimum— (A) Attend at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the total contact hours of the mandatory basic training curriculum and make up any missed hours in a manner that ensures that the trainee develops a thorough understanding of the mandatory training objectives; (B) Complete all graduation requirements, including any makeup work, within twelve (12) months after the originally scheduled graduation date for the course. There shall be no partial or transferable credit for an incomplete course without prior approval of the director; (C) Achieve— 1. A score of no less than seventy percent (70%) on each written exam, unless a greater passing percentage is required by the program of study being used; 2. A final, overall score of no less than seventy percent (70%) for all written exams, unless a greater passing percentage is required by the program of study being used; 3. A passing score on each objective graded pass or fail; and 4. An overall firearms score of no less than seventy percent (70%), unless a greater passing percentage is required by the program of study being used; and (D) Successfully complete any supplemental training included in the course pursuant to section (5) of this rule. AUTHORITY: sections 590.030, 590.040, and 590.190, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed May 1, 2002, effective Oct. 30, 2002. Amended: Filed Nov. 15, 2002, effective April 30, 2003. Amended: Filed July 1, 2008, effective Dec. 30, 2008. Amended: Filed June 30, 2020, effective Jan. 30, 2021. *Original authority: 590.030, RSMo 2001, amended 2009; 590.040, RSMo 2001, amended 2005, 2007, 2014; and 590.190, RSMo 2001, amended 2007.