In-Service Training Requirements

All deputy sheriffs, except those who have attended the Basic Law Enforcement School within the calendar year must successfully complete a POST-approved 40-hour in-service training session appropriate for their rank and responsibilities each calendar year. The failure of an individual deputy to successfully complete the annual in-service training requirement will result in the deputy's loss of eligibility for the pay supplement provided for in T.C.A. § 38-8-111. The failure of this individual deputy to successfully complete another in-service training session within one year will result in the loss of that deputy’s certification. Each sheriff’s office participating in the POST Commission's training program must file a letter of intent with the commission stating its commitment to mandatory training for all law enforcement officers. The failure of several deputies from one sheriff’s office will be cause for the commission to examine that sheriff’s office training policy and may result in the office being declared out of compliance with state standards and thereby not eligible to participate in the commission's training programs at no cost. Any travel expense is the responsibility of the individual sheriff’s office. T.C.A. § 38-8-107; Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.01 (1) and Rule 1110-4-.12.

Certified or recognized courses must be at least 40 hours in duration and established by the sheriff’s office to meet the educational requirements normal to the deputy’s position and responsibility in accord with the course curriculum requirements established by the POST Commission. Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.01 (2). Each in-service training session must include at least eight hours of firearms training requalification with the deputy’s service handgun and any other firearm authorized by the sheriff’s office.  Each deputy must score at least 75 percent to qualify.  Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.02.  Each in-service training session must also include training in child sexual abuse. This training is mandatory for a deputy to be eligible for the salary supplement authorized in T.C.A. § 38-8-111. T.C.A. § 37-1-603(b)(4)(B); Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.05 (4). In addition, pursuant to Public Chapter 243 of the Acts of 2005, each deputy who operates an emergency vehicle must receive no less than two hours of annual training and pass a comprehensive examination covering all applicable laws pertaining to emergency vehicles, the operation of the vehicle in emergency and nonemergency situations, and response to actions of nonemergency vehicles. Each deputy must obtain a passing grade of at least 75 percent on all tests, 75 percent on the firearms qualification,  and 75 percent on the defensive driving qualification. The in-service training session is not complete until the officer has taken the test and qualified with his firearm. Any deputy who fails the test or firearms or driving qualification must make up the failing score during the calendar year in order to keep their certification. Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.12.

Attendance records must be maintained on each deputy and must be submitted to the POST Commission. An attendance roster listing the names of all deputies attending a scheduled block of training on a particular day must be maintained and kept on file by the sheriff’s office. The sheriff and the instructor must certify to the POST Commission those deputies who successfully complete the in-service training. The certification must include the name of the reporting sheriff’s office and the name, rank, and Social Security number of each deputy along with their test scores and firearm qualification score. Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.06.

If a deputy attends a specialized school appropriate to his or her rank and responsibility, the eligibility of the school must be approved by the commission. Only schools of a law enforcement related nature will be considered for in-service credit toward meeting the 40  hour training requirement. A curriculum of each school and proof of successful completion by the individual attendee is required. See Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.09.

Any deputy who successfully completes a law enforcement course at any accredited institution of higher education, college, or university may be considered for annual fulfillment of all or a portion of the required 40 hours in-service credit hours, not including firearms training. See Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.11.

Requests for waivers of in-service training for a calendar year on the basis of medical disability must be submitted to the POST Commission by the chief administrative officer of the sheriff’s office explaining the individual case. A doctor’s statement must accompany the request. Each request will be considered individually. Requests for the waiver of in-service training for a calendar year on the basis that a deputy will retire during that year must be submitted by the deputy to his or her chief administrative officer stating the intention to retire prior to completion of in-service training for the calendar year. If the request is approved by the sheriff’s office, then a letter must be forwarded to the POST Commission for approval. Rules of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Rule 1110-4-.10.