Course Curriculum Requirements

(1) Course curriculums shall be based on a needs survey of the area served and courses required by the Commission. All curricula shall be prepared on Commission-approved Lesson Plan Forms and kept on file at the submitting agency subject to review by the Commission. The scope and lesson objectives for all courses to be taught, along with a letter from the Department head requesting approval of the curriculums, shall be submitted to the Commission for review and approval prior to the commencement of training. A copy of the schedule, the dates and location of training, the date of testing, and a copy of the test instrument and answers shall be submitted to the Commission for approval. The courses shall be targeted or directly steered toward law enforcement techniques and practices. (2) Along with the curriculum, the agency shall submit individual course statements that include: (a) Course objectives; (b) An outline of course content; (c) A list of teaching aids or materials, including all audio-visual supplements to instruction; and (d) A list of instructors with brief descriptions of their qualifications to teach the course. (3) The Commission requires the teaching of certain subjects. Since the mandatory hours and subjects may be changed from year-to-year, departments will be notified prior to December 1 each year of the subject areas and the required number of hours. It is incumbent upon the departmental administrator and/or Training Officers to monitor official federal, state, and local guidelines; ordinances or related directives; and Commission correspondence for appropriate action. (4) Statutory Mandated Training Requirements IN-SERVICE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS CHAPTER 1110-04 (a) Child Sexual Abuse In-Service Training Requirement: Training in the detection of child sexual abuse and in the proper action that should be taken in a suspected case of child sexual abuse must be included as a part of the annual in-service training requirement. This training is mandatory for a law enforcement officer to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111, pursuant to T.C.A. § 37-1-603(b)(4)(A)(ii). (b) Emergency Vehicle Operation Training: Training in emergency vehicle operations must be included as a part of the annual in-service training requirement. This training is mandatory for a law enforcement officer to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111, pursuant to T.C.A. § 55-8-194. (c) Mental Health Training: Training in mental health related matters must be included as part of the annual in-service requirement. This training is mandatory for a law enforcement officer to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8- 111, pursuant to T.C.A. § 38-8-119. (d) Each in-service training session shall include firearms training requalification with service handguns and any other firearm authorized by the officer’s department. Each training session must be at least eight (8) hours in duration. Each trainee must obtain a score of seventy-five percent (75%) or more to qualify. This training is mandatory for a law enforcement officer to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111, pursuant to T.C.A. § 38-8-104. (5) Other Mandated Training Requirements (a) In 2022, at least ten (10) hours in the following areas must be included as part of the annual in-service training requirement. This training is mandatory for law enforcement officers to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111, pursuant to paragraph (3) above. For 2022, the ten (10) hours of training shall be allocated as follows: 1. Two (2) hours in de-escalation and duty to intervene; 2. Two (2) hours in public assembly interaction; 3. Two (2) hours in officer wellness; and 4. Four (4) hours in community involvement. (b) In 2023, at least five (5) hours in the following areas must be included as part of the annual in-service training requirement. This training is mandatory for law enforcement officers to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111, pursuant to paragraph (3) above. For 2023, the five (5) hours of training shall be allocated as follows: 1. One (1) hour in de-escalation and duty to intervene; 2. One (1) hour in public assembly interaction; 3. One (1) hour in officer wellness; and 4. Two (2) hours in community involvement. (c) For an agency’s officers whose regular duties are to perform as undercover agents, community involvement training will not be required as part of the annual in-service IN-SERVICE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS CHAPTER 1110-04 training requirement in 2022 and 2023. Officers who serve as undercover agents will remain eligible to receive the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111. (d) No test will be required as part of community involvement training and the training will be administered similarly to the way specialized schools are evaluated for in-service training under Tenn. Comp. R. & Reg. 1110-04-.09. (e) On January 1, 2024, the requirements for annual in-service training in other mandated training will expire and will no longer be required for future in-service training, unless otherwise provided for or adopted in rule by the Commission. (f) By the end of 2024, all in-service training requirements will be reviewed for applicability and efficacy, and a recommendation will be made regarding additional revisions to Commission in-service training requirements found in statute, regulations, and policies. This review is intended to ensure that officers receive the appropriate annual training topics for their rank and responsibility.