Other Certification Information

The Waiver Rule - Rule .0408 (a) requires that all substantiating paperwork be submitted along with the Report of Appointment form. However, note in .0408 (b) that compliance is waived for officers applying for dual certification provided that:

the officer holds a valid certification as either a deputy sheriff, detention officer, or telecommunicator with the employing agency requesting dual certification; and
the officer has not had a break in service since initial certification with the employing agency requesting dual certification.

If an individual is employed by your agency as a deputy sheriff, detention officer, or telecommunicator, appointing that individual in another capacity requires only the Report of Appointment Form (F-4 or F-4T), documentation of compliance with the Firearms Qualification Requirement (deputy sheriff and detention officer appointments only) and the oath of office (deputy sheriffs only).

Change in Status (Form F-9 or F-9T) - To change an individual from full-time to reserve status (or vice versa), or from weapons carrying to unauthorized to carry a weapon status (or vice versa), you only need to submit a Change in Status Form. This form may also be used to make other changes to the officer's record, such as a change in name. Remember to attach recent firearms qualification scores when changing to a weapons authorized status.

Report of Separation (Form F-5 or F-5T) - This form must be submitted to the division when a justice officer leaves your agency by retiring, resigning, dismissal, death, or at the Sheriff's discretion. Please be certain of your decision to separate an officer from your agency rather than changing his or her status since this decision cannot be reversed by Division staff once the paperwork has been processed.

Notification of Criminal Charges/Convictions - If an applicant/officer becomes charged with a criminal offense, Rule .0301(a)(7) requires the agency head and the Division to be notified within five working days of the date of service as well as upon the adjudication of the charges. Failure of an officer to make such notification may be sufficient grounds for action against his certification. Sheriff's Offices are encouraged to incorporate this requirement into their existing policy and procedures manual. Effective August 1, 2002, an officer must also notify the Division and the appointing agency head in writing of "all Domestic Violence Orders (50B) which are issued by a judicial official and which provide an opportunity for both parties to be present." This notification must be made within five days.

Notification of Positive Drug Screen Results or Refusals - Each agency shall report all positives and refusals for all applicants and lateral transfers. If an agency conducts in-service drug testing, only positive results should be reported to the Division.

In-Service Annual Firearms Qualification - Effective August 1, 2002, 12 NCAC 10B .2104 requires:

day and night handgun qualification (including the mandatory use of the flashlight at the five-yard line)
day and night shotgun qualification (for officers who are authorized to carry a shotgun)
day and night combat course of fire
officers who are also authorized to carry rifles, automatic weapons, or off-duty handguns are required to qualify with those weapons.

As with Basic Law Enforcement Training, the combat course of fire does not require a specific course of fire nor a mandatory scoring system. The instructor should develop written combat course with objectives, drawings of the course layout, how the course will flow, and how the course will be scored. Individuals are required to pass the combat courses of fire satisfactorily. These scores should be maintained with the other documented scores for the firearms training. Combat courses must be successfully completed once in three attempts. Note that while BLET requires the use of duty/service ammunition, the Sheriffs' Commission rules still allow for the use of duty-type ammunition. For your use, we have created a new qualification form which complies with the new standards on which you may record an individuals scores.

For more information, see also the In -Service Firearms Manual.