LEOSA Retiree Certification?

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Does anyone know if CLEET has plans to create a certification course to fulfill the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act of 2004 requirements for retired officers?

I know that Kansas and Missouri have created programs in which retirees can be certified to state LEO standards annually, allowing them to carry under the provisions of LEOSA. Illinois, S. Dakota, Florida, and Kentucky have created similar programs I am told.

[enidpd804]

They originally said they had plans to do so but asked for patience. Now, since the Ada move, I don't find anything on their web site about it. I believe it's obligatory by federal law.

[Buzzdraw]

As I recall from a newspaper article, CLEET managed to get severely under funded by the legislature for this budget year. It may affect this and other programs, but this is just a guess.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Does CLEET have the authority to create such a program, or will it have to wait on the legislature to act?

I fail to see where there would be much expense involved. The course is already designed. It's only a matter of offering it to retirees for a fee and providing them with a laminated wallet card testifying to the fact that they have qualified to the standard of OK LEOs.

[Buzzdraw]

Here is link to CLEET: http://www.cleet.state.ok.us/ Let us know what you find out.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

I e-mailed someone there several months ago about it. This person didn't seem to know how CLEET was going to deal with it, if at all. I thought that some OK LEOs here may have some contacts and know if they are planning anything.

Here's how Kansas is doing it. http://www.kletc.org/

And Missouri. http://www.defensivehandgunenterprises.com/

[Buzzdraw]

CLEET in Oklahoma may have been in the midst of the move from OKC to Ada about the time you emailed. I'd suggest phoning the switch board and asking to be transferred to the correct extension. See previous post for website; phone numbers are there.

Let us know what you find out.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

FYI, I asked the question using the online question form at http://www.cleet.state.ok.us/contact.htm on October 28th. I'm still waiting for a reply.

[goodoleboy]

Got this fowarded to my email recently. I think it answers the OP question.


COUNCIL ON LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING



Memorandum



TO: Director Jeanie Nelson



FROM: Charles Spencer



DATE: October 18, 2006



SUBJECT: Firearms Requalification



The Advisory Council met on October 5, 2006. Agenda item 3 was the "Legislative and Director's Report, during which Senate Bill 1970, signed by Governor Henry on April 10, 2006 was discussed. The mandate of SB-1970 was that CLEET "Promulgate rules to establish a state firearms requalification standard for active peace officers and meet any requirements of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 for peace officers to carry concealed weapons nationwide."



After discussion the Advisory Council voted to have CLEET appoint a committee to study and make recommendations for implementation of SB-1970. The committee was to be comprised of firearms instructors and law enforcement administrators.



The following individuals were contacted to serve on the committee:



Chief Rex Eskridge, Muskogee Police Department

Officer Robert Groseclose, Spencer Police Department (F/A Instructor)

Sheriff Don Hewitt, McLain County Sheriff's Dept.

Tom Linn, Retired Agent - FBI, (F/A Instructor)

Chief Don Murray, Walters Police Department

Vince O'Neill, CLEET, Lead Firearms Instructor

Charles Spencer, Assistant Director - CLEET

Chris Sutterfield, Training Div. Manager - CLEET (F/A Instructor)

Trooper Tim Tipton, Oklahoma Highway Patrol (F/A Instructor)

Sgt. Rick Weigel, Tulsa Police Department (Range Master)

Agent Adam Whitney, OSBI (F/A Instructor)



The committee met on October 16, 2006 with Chief Eskridge, Sheriff Hewitt and Agent Whitney absent due to other commitments. Chief Eskridge and Agent Whitney knew of potential conflicts with their attendance but did express their opinions on the issues to be discussed. Sheriff Hewitt called the morning of the meeting and could not attend due to a weekend homicide in his jurisdiction. He also expressed his opinion on the issues to be discussed.



Memorandum to Director Jeanie Nelson

October 18, 2006

Page Two



Lengthy discussion took place during the meeting and I offer a brief synopsis of the issues discussed and the committee recommendations for drafting administrative rules to govern firearms requalification for active oklahoma peace officers.



Minimum requalification score: Committee recommended that the minimum requalification score be set at 70%; same as CLEET basic academy firearms qualification score.



Turning targets: No more than nine law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma are believed to have turning target capability. Committee recommends that turning targets not be required.



Silhouette targets: Significant discussion of this topic. A variety of silhouette targets are marketed for law enforcement use. Committee recommended the target design currently in use by CLEET for basic academy handgun qualification. That target is commonly referred to as the GB2000PH.



Course(s) of fire: The twenty (20) round course of fire (as required in the CLEET basic academy) is recommended for meeting the requalification requirement.



Number of qualifying rounds: Committee recommended that at least one qualifying round be fired on an annual, calendar year, basis. Proof of same to be submitted to CLEET in a format as developed by CLEET staff. Lengthy discussion on number of attempts to fire qualifying round. Since requalification is to be accomplished and reported on an annual calendar year basis it was left to individual agency discretion as to the number of attempts.



Remedial training: Significant discussion on this topic. No specific recommendation as it was felt that remedial training was an issue to be addressed by the employing agency. Reference was made to CLEET Administrative Rule 390:15-1-13 ( j) which , requires additional training through the employing agency, by a CLEET certified firearms instructor.



Weapon: Committee recommended that this language only be "handgun." Handgun would include either revolver or semi-automatic pistol. There was lengthy discussion about "back-up" weapons, "off-duty" weapons, etc., and it was agreed that it was not possible to address every possible situation as to specific weapons.



Final responsibility for the choice of handgun used to qualify will rest with the employing agency and individual officer.













Memorandum to Director Jeanie Nelson

October 18, 2006

Page Three



Who is subject to SB-1970: The language of SB-1970 refers to "active" peace officers. This would include active reserve peace officers.



Any certified officer would be exempt from requalification for the remainder of the calender year in which they were certified.



Officers must show proof of requalification during the next calendar year after receiving peace officer certification.



A change in employing agencies would not exempt the officer from the annual

requalification requirement.



Requalification must be accomplished in presence of CLEET certified firearms instructor.



Annual Mandate Training Credit: By policy, CLEET does not credit "requalification courses" for purposes of meeting the annual mandatory peace officer training requirement of sixteen (16) hours pursuant to 70 § 3311.4. Examples of requalification training which are not credited for purposes 70 § 3311.4 include breathalyzer, intoxilyzer, OLETS, etc.



Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) - H.R. 218: This federal legislation applies the same standard for active and retired peace officers in order for them to obtain a permit allowing interstate "concealed carry." The LEOSA standard(s) for a retired officer seeking such permit require the retired officer to "meet the standards established by the State for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm of the same type as the concealed firearm." (Chapter 44, Title 18 U.S.C. 926C (d)(B).



It will necessary for staff to develop an internal process for receiving and recording data and any forms necessary for implementation and maintenance of this program.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Good news!

I wasn't aware that there is no uniform firearms standard for LEs in Oklahoma. I always assumed it was the CLEET course since it seems that everyone uses it.