Any Info on HR 218 LEO Retiree Qual-Certifications?

[Captain38]

Info on how your State or Agency is Handling Retirees Qualifcation under HR 218

I am seeking information how various states or police agencies are handling the qualification and certifcation of their LEO retirees under the new Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (HR 218). I am a retired State Police Captain and an avid shooter and am therefore very interested in providing my former department with as much data as possible in order to help get our program up and running. I'm sure many of you who do not have a law enforcement background disagree with this new Federal act but I hope will you not get into all the negative comments I've seen on other forums.

 

[txgho1911]

I'll say

Welcom to the High Road.
The heated discusions between LEO and non Leo are frowned upon.

As far as I have heard and read there is a lot of confusion ongoing throughout the country in large urban PDs. It sounds like there is no standardization of what the anual quals consist of. This may require state legislatures to implement a new set of standards. Except for those traveling to DC and NYC or CHicago, most retired officers may have a more reasonable way to carry on a FL, UT, TX, or other state carry liscense.

 

[Pilgrim]

I am a CA retiree living in ID. We have asked the county sheriff what he plans to do about H.R. 218. He told us he was waiting for the state to set standards for certification and qualification.

If push comes to shove, I will ask my former employer in CA to certify me when I make an annual visit there to see the grandkids.

 

[Jeff White]

The Illinois Police Training and Standards Board is still trying to figure it out. they recently sent out a survey to all agencies wanting input.

I know a couple of chiefs who are against retired officers carrying for liability reasons. I don't think the issue is going to be resolved quickly.

Jeff

 

[JimC]

I am a CA retiree living in ID. We have asked the county sheriff what he plans to do about H.R. 218. He told us he was waiting for the state to set standards for certification and qualification.

If push comes to shove, I will ask my former employer in CA to certify me when I make an annual visit there to see the grandkids.

I have read many comments and been involved in several informed conversations on H.R. 218 or P.L. 108-277 since it went into effect. What I find hard to believe is that many people say that their States do not have a standard for certification for qualification/re-qualification and training.

I've read where many agencies do not have a standard that they are required to meet set forth by their respective States. This is 2004 soon to be 2005, not the dark ages.

Training is one thing but standardized LE qualification requirements are definitely another.

What standards do current LEOs have to meet in these States?

H.R. 218 926C, (c), (5) states that during the last 12-month period, has met, at the expense of the individual, the States mandate for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms.

For myself and others involved here in NJ, which has a program for retired LEOs to qualify for their permit, this is interrupted as meaning that the retiree must meat the standards of the state in which the retiree now resides, not where he/she came from of worked in.

If you were an LEO in NJ and moved to PA, you would have to meet the standards set forth by PA where you now reside, not NJ.

My wife and I are considering a move to MT next year. If I use this thinking, I will have to travel back and forth from MT to NJ twice a year to meet NJ standards for qualification even though I live in MT? I don't believe so.

A good friend of mine who was in LE here in NJ has since moved to MN. Their State CCW law is currently in jeopardy. He has inquired there how he can satisfy MN State qualification requirements for LEOs there which would be the standard for him, not NJ requirements.

I have my retired LE ID from my previous agency with photo ID as required under H.R. 218 926C, (d), (2)(A) and, an ID from the State of NJ that just happens to have a photo ID (not actually required) 926(C), (d), (2)(B), that indicates that I have met the standards for qualification here in NJ which is twice a year both day and night, same as for active LEOs.

I feel confident, with the opinion of the NJ State Range Master and NJ State Police even though they won't publically admit to it (they were against the NJ retired officers carry permit law from day one) and more than one Chief of Police, that I have met all the requiremnents of P.L. 108-277.

I fail to see what all the confusion is on this.

 

[Kharn]

I saw a notice in one of the Calvert County, MD, papers that the Sheriff was offering range qualifications to retired officers (and civilians that wanted to participate, I couldnt figure out what good it would do for them) so they would qualify for carrying in the state under 218.

Kharn

 

[Captain38]

XXX

 

[dinosaur]

I understand Minneapolis just started the course for their retirees. Check with them for further info.

I find it amusing that here in Pa. there's no qual. for CCW but if I want to carry as a retired LEO I have to qualify every year. The law basically gives one the "right" to carry oos but no matter how you slice it, active or retired you'd still be a "civilian" and subject to the local laws.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have read many comments and been involved in several informed conversations on H.R. 218 or P.L. 108-277 since it went into effect. What I find hard to believe is that many people say that their States do not have a standard for certification for qualification/re-qualification and training.

I've read where many agencies do not have a standard that they are required to meet set forth by their respective States. This is 2004 soon to be 2005, not the dark ages.

Training is one thing but standardized LE qualification requirements are definitely another.

What standards do current LEOs have to meet in these States?

Before H.R. 218 became law, CA retirees only had to have an endorsement on their retired ID cards that said they were permitted CCW carry. There is no state requirement to qualify. The ID card must be renewed every five years.

When I renewed my ID card in CA before leaving in March of this year, I asked the Sheriff's secretary if there was a requirement to "requalify" with my weapon. She told me the Sheriff did not require it.

Pilgrim