Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-01-.01 - DEFINITIONS

(1) "Advanced Course" means a course of study and instruction resulting in the development of a high degree of proficiency and expertise in a particular area of professional endeavor recognized by the Commission.

(2) "Approved School" means any law enforcement training unit, academy, university or college, technical or trade school, or similar school recognized by the Commission.

(3) "Basic Law Enforcement Course" means the minimum course of study and instruction required for certification of a law enforcement officer.

(4) "Break in Service" means:

(1) any break in full-time law enforcement employment, including the mere changing of employers for grandfathered officers; and

(2) any break in full-time law enforcement service for certified officers.

(5) "Certificate of Compliance" means a written statement issued by the Commission testifying to the accreditation of an approved school, instructor, student, or trainee.

(6) "Certification" means the designation conferred by the Commission on a person who has successfully completed a minimum, advanced, or specialized course of study and instruction required for a law enforcement officer in the State of Tennessee, and who meets all applicable requirements of T.C.A. §§ 38-8-106 and 38-8-107, and Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-02 and 1110-03.

(7) "Commission" means the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or employees acting on its behalf.

(8) "Curriculum" means a program of study that will achieve the minimum standard requirements promulgated by the Commission.

(9) "Department" and "Agency" mean any state, municipal, county, airport, or public safety agency, or any other law enforcement agency established, created, or recognized by state law employing law enforcement officers and required to be certified under the minimum standards as outlined by state law and Commission rules.

(10) "Equivalent of a High School Diploma" means a General Education Development (GED®) diploma.

(11) "Exempt/Exempted" means any officer who was employed after July 1, 1970, but prior to July 1, 1982. These officers are not required to be certified and are not entitled to salary supplement, unless they meet pre-employment requirements and either:

(1) attend basic police training; or

(2) substitute ten (10) years of experience and successfully attend the Commission's three

(3) week transition school as provided by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 111002-.03(6).

(12) "FBI" means the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(13) "General Departmental Instructor" means a Training Officer who is certified and designated as a General Departmental Instructor pursuant to Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-03-.04(2) and 1110-04-.03.

(14) "Grandfather/Grandfathered" means any officer who was hired prior to July 1, 1970, and was certified as grandfathered. Such officers are eligible for salary supplement. Upon separation as a law enforcement officer, grandfather status is lost, except as provided by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-02-.03(6).

(15) "High School Diploma" means a diploma or certificate issued to an individual successfully meeting the educational curriculum, testing standards and attendance requirements established by a recognized state Board of Education at the time of graduation from high school. If the high school diploma issued is the product of a home school program, the Commission will only recognize parent-issued diplomas if the issued diploma and supporting transcripts comply with the requirements set forth in T.C.A. § 49-6-3050 or with equivalent requirements from another state. This does not include a transition certificate or individualized education program certificate.

(16) "In-service Course" means a course of study or instruction designed to review and update an officer in law enforcement tasks commensurate with his/her present rank and responsibility.

(17) "Instructor Certification" means certification an instructor obtains in a specialized area of study and in accordance with Commission standards.

(18) "Law Enforcement Officer" means either a:

(a) "Full-time Law Enforcement Officer," which means any person employed by any municipality or political subdivision of the State of Tennessee whose primary responsibility is the prevention and detection of crime, and the apprehension of offenders, and whose primary source of income is derived from employment as a police officer. This definition includes campus police officers recognized under T.C.A. § 49-7-118, railroad police officers under T.C.A. § 65-6-133, drug/narcotics agents under T.C.A. § 39-11-106, or any other law enforcement officer employed by a law enforcement agency established, created, or recognized by state law; or

(b) "Part-time Law Enforcement Officer," which means any person employed as a temporary, reserve, auxiliary or any other commissioned position by any municipality or any political subdivision of the State of Tennessee whose primary responsibility is to support the full-time police officer in the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, and assisting in the prosecution of the offenders for appropriate remuneration in measure with specifically assigned duties and/or job description. Part-time officers work no more than twenty (20) hours per week, for a total of no more than one hundred (100) hours per month for any agency or combination of agencies as set forth in T.C.A. § 38-8-101(3). Any law enforcement officer who works more than the maximum hours as specified herein must be reclassified to a full-time status and must meet all requirements for standards/training as mandated under state law and Commission rules.

(19) "Paired with" means in the presence of a field Training Officer or a full-time certified officer.

(20) "Special Deputy" means any person who is assigned specific law enforcement functions as to the prevention and detection of crime and general laws of the state on a volunteer basis. Fulltime certified law enforcement officers may serve as special deputies. Any law enforcement officer working on a volunteer basis will not receive pay or benefits except for honorariums and may be utilized for an unlimited number of hours. Nothing in the rule will prevent a sheriff from providing a special deputy commission to someone who is a full-time certified law enforcement officer.

(21) "Specialized Course" means a course of study or instruction related to a specific law enforcement task.

(22) "Sub-committee" means a committee appointed by the Chairman of the Commission and given the authority to act on matters pertaining to substitutions of basic and in-service training, in-service and basic curriculums, Training Officers, police pay supplement, and any other matters directed by the Commission.

(23) "TBI" means the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

(24) "TLETA" means the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.

(25) "Training Officer" means any certified law enforcement officer who meets the requirements of the Commission and is qualified to develop, organize, implement, or supervise any course of study or instruction.

(26) "Transition School" means the three (3) week training course consisting of fundamental law enforcement skills and knowledge for previously certified or certified equivalent officers as set forth in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-03-.10.

(27) "Waiver of" means an exemption to these rules granted by the Commission which meets the established criteria as set forth in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-09.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1110-01-.01

Original rule filed December 20, 1982; effective January 19, 1983. Amendment filed January 6, 1989; effective May 1, 1989. Amendment filed November 13, 1989; effective February 28, 1990. Amendment filed August 4, 1992; effective November 29, 1992. Amendment filed October 25, 1993; effective March 1, 1994. Amendment filed October 2, 2006; effective February 28, 2007. Amendment filed March 18, 2010; effective June 16, 2010. Amendment filed March 11, 2011; effective June 9, 2011. Amendments filed January 7, 2021; effective 4/7/2021.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 38-8-101 and 38-8-104.