12 NCAC 09C .0303. PROBATIONARY CERTIFICATION

(a)  Before a prospective criminal justice officer may be administered the oath of office, exercise the power of arrest, or commence active service as an officer, the employing agency shall have in its possession the person's Probationary Certification.

(b)  The Commission shall certify as a probationary officer a person meeting the minimum standards for criminal justice employment when the person's employing agency submits a completed Report of Appointment to the Standards Division.

(1)           The Standards Division shall issue the person's Probationary Certification to the employing agency.

(2)           If an oath is required, the official administering an oath of office to the person shall be presented the person's Probationary Certification prior to the swearing.  The administering official shall sign and date the oath on the Probationary Certification.  The employing agency shall return a copy of the signed Probationary Certification to the Standards Division within 10 days of the administration of the officer's oath.

(3)           If no oath is required, the officer's department head shall endorse the Probationary Certification and enter the date on which the officer's service commenced, returning a copy of the certification to the Standards Division within 10 days of the commencement of the officer's service.

(c)  The officer's Probationary Certification shall remain valid for one year from the date the certification is issued by the Standards Division unless sooner terminated for cause.

(d)  Before a prospective law enforcement officer, except wildlife enforcement officers, can be issued a Probationary Certification, the prospective officer must have successfully completed the required basic training course stipulated in 12 NCAC 9B .0205(b).

(e)  Before a prospective wildlife enforcement officer can be issued a Probationary Certification, the prospective officer must have successfully completed the required basic training course stipulated in 12 NCAC 9B .0228(b).

(f)  An applicant for certification who holds a valid Probationary Certification issued by the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission shall be certified as a probationary law enforcement officer as specified under Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Rule.

(g)  Where the local governing authority lawfully declares the existence of a public emergency, the department head of the criminal justice agency of the jurisdiction may swear persons as law enforcement officers without first obtaining Probationary Certification for those officers.  The employing agency shall obtain Probationary Certification for such emergency officers not more than 20 days after the administration of their oath of office.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 17C‑6; 17C‑10;

Eff. January 1, 1981;

Amended Eff. November 1, 1993; March 1, 1992; July 1, 1989; October 1, 1985.