Section 1720.60  Requirements of Participating Local Agencies

Each participating law enforcement agency shall:

a)         Specifically inform each full-time officer appointed after January 1, 1976 that, as a condition of permanent employment, the officer must successfully complete the prescribed basic course of training within the first 6 months after employment.

b)         Fully cooperate with the Board by furnishing reports and information the Board deems necessary to fully implement all provisions of the Act.

c)         Not appoint any person as a permanent full-time law enforcement officer who has not been awarded a certificate by the Board attesting to successful completion of the required basic training course within the first 6 months of employment.  A waiver of this training requirement may be obtained under the conditions set forth in Section 1720.20(f).

d)         Before a full-time police officer can be vested with law enforcement authority and permitted to patrol the public, each law enforcement agency must activate the certification of an individual by:

1)         For newly hired and trained officers,

A)        conducting a thorough background check on the individual,

B)        confirming the individual completed an approved training academy, and

C)        confirming the individual passed the Certification Examination.

2)         For previously certified officers,

A)        conducting a thorough background check on the individual in accordance with the Illinois Police Training Act,

B)        submitting a request for reactivation to the Board, and

C)        obtaining notice of reactivation from the Board.

3)         For officers who have attended an academy and obtained certification in another state or with an agency of the federal government,

A)        confirming certification through out-of-state reciprocity,

B)        verifying the individual's prior trainings, and

C)        confirming the individual completed all courses prescribed by the Board and passed the Equivalency Exam.

e)         Terminate the employment of any law enforcement officer who fails to successfully complete the prescribed basic course within the first 6 months of employment, unless a waiver of the basic course requirement has been granted to the employing agency upon proper application to the Executive Director of the Board.

f)         When appointing an officer who has previously been issued a certificate by the Board, the chief administrator of a law enforcement agency must request reactivation of said certification to allow the officer to exercise law enforcement authorities. An individual who is not certified by the Board or whose certified status is inactive shall not function as a law enforcement officer, be assigned the duties of a law enforcement officer by an employing agency, or be authorized to carry firearms under the authority of the employer, except as otherwise authorized to carry a firearm under State or federal law. 50 ILCS 705/8.1. Requests for reactivation will be addressed by the Board in a timely manner. Any request requiring more than 7 days to process will be addressed by a letter from the Board to the law enforcement agency administrator explaining the need for additional time.

g)         When appointing an officer who has previously been issued law enforcement certification in another state or by a law enforcement agency of the federal government, the employing law enforcement agency may apply to the Board for an out-of-state reciprocity certification and allow the officer to complete the conditions assigned by the Board based upon the specific coursework already completed.  The officer shall be deemed inactive until the Board issues the certification.  An individual who is not certified by the Board or whose certified status is inactive shall not function as a law enforcement officer, be assigned the duties of a law enforcement officer by an employing agency, or be authorized to carry firearms under the authority of the employer, except as otherwise authorized to carry a firearm under State or federal law. 50 ILCS 705/8.1

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 9369, effective June 23, 2023)