Resources and Publications

Agency Resources

Administrative Processes

• Council – members, rules, meetings, minutes, strategic plan
• Academy Staff contact information
• Requesting records
• Annual Rule 13 reporting requirements
• Employment notification form requirements (as required by 20 VSA 2362)
• Requesting to use facility space
• Waivers: General overview
• Council Rules Governing Waivers
• Out of State Waiver Policy for Certification
• Waivers: Military
• Mandatory training requirements

Training Processes

• Level III basic training program
• Level I & II basic training program
• Registering for in-service training
• Registering an applicant for entrance testing
• Instructor Certification Application
• Instructor re-certification Application
• Applying to become a Training Assistant or Instructor for the Academy
  • To become a Training Assistant please contact Training Coordinator Jake Hansell or Training Coordinator Ken Hawkins
• FTO – forms and processes

Vermont Elder Abuse Resources

• Elder Abuse Help Guide
• Elder Abuse and Exploitation Form

Council Information

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC) is the governing body related to the regulation of criminal justice programs in Vermont. Their purpose, composition and authority are outlined in Title 20 of the Vermont Statutes.

Information on specific items related to the Council are available via our website as listed below.

1. Current members
2. Rules
3. Meeting minutes
4. Meeting schedule

Annual Rule 13 Reporting Requirements

The calendar year following certification as a law enforcement officer, and every calendar year thereafter, each certified law enforcement officer shall participate in a minimum of thirty

(30) hours of certified or certifiable in-service training. Such training shall include firearms re­ qualification under the supervision of a Council-certified firearms instructor, four (4) hours of use of force & tactics refresher training under the supervision of a Council-certified use of force & tactics instructor and first aid training unless currently certified in first aid.

Each law enforcement agency head shall submit to the Executive Director a report summarizing the in-service training received by members of that agency during the previous calendar year. Said report shall be submitted prior to March 1st of every year and shall be in a format approved by the Executive Director.                                                                                                                            ·

The Council may require specific training to be obtained by all officers as part of their annual in-service training in a given year. The Council may also require individual officers to obtain specified training. Notice must be given to all law enforcement agency heads by December 1 of the prior calendar year.

The agency's training records shall be available for review by a representative of the Council staff upon reasonable notice.

For questions regarding the Rule 13 process please contact Lindsay Thivierge at Lindsay.Thivierge@vermont.gov

Rule 13 Reporting Guidelines

1. Submit the report to the Council on time (no later than March 1).
2. Include training hours for every officer you employed during the calendar year, including those who left employment.
3. Report only training hours your agency sponsored or approved for each officer.
4. Include documentation in your report for any officer who has failed to complete their mandatory training.
5. Verify that any hours completed under an approved waiver to bring an officer back into compliance are not also counted towards completion of the current calendar years requirements.

Employment Notification Form

Submitting an accurate “Employment Notification form” is critical in establishing an officer’s record with the Council. It provides basic personal information but is also used to notify the Council of initial and subsequent changes in employment and/or certification status. The current version of the form can be found on the Forms page.

Employment Notification Guidelines

1. Submit an Employment Notification form for all new employees, as well as those who leave employment.
2. Submit an Employment Notification form for all changes in status (i.e. Level II to Level III duty, change in rank, extended leave, election or appointment of a Constable).
3. Submit the form as soon as possible once you become aware of the change.
4. TOWN CLERKS: There is a legislative requirement to notify VCJC within five (5) days of the election or appointment of a Constable. See statute 20 VSA 2362
5. AGENCY HEADS/LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES: There is a legislative requirement to notify VCJC within five (5) days of the appointment or removal of an officer. This includes the appointment or removal of the Chief of Police. See statute: 20 VSA 2362

Employment Notification Form

Waivers: General Overview

1. Waiver requests will only be considered when submitted by an agency head or their designee.
2. Agency heads/designees are strongly encouraged to ensure they are using the most current version of Council forms when requesting waivers. The most current version of those forms can be found on the Academy website's Forms page.
3. The Director of Administration will review all waiver requests.
4. Should an agency head/designee disagree with the findings of the Director of Administration they may appeal the decision to the Executive Director in writing (email is acceptable) within 10 business days. The Executive Director may overrule, affirm and/or amend the decision of the Director of Administration.
5. Should an agency head/designee disagree with the findings of the Executive Director they may appeal the decision to the Council in writing (email is acceptable) within 10 business days. In all cases the decision of the Council is final.

 Military Waivers

The Council has authorized the Executive Director to grant waivers of Rule 13 for persons on active military deployment status.

1. The active law enforcement officer must be on active military orders for a period of at least six months in a calendar year. 
2. Requests for a military waiver for Rule 13 training requirements should be summited to the Director of Administration using the current waiver request form
3. Upon return from military deployment, the Agency must contact the Director of Administration to receive an updated training prescription for the officer granted the waiver in order to update their certification.

Mandatory Training Requirements

In an effort to assist agencies in complying with Council and Legislative training mandates, the following list has been compiled for reference.

Initial Certification:

Legislatively mandated training courses for all Levels:

1. Domestic Violence (baseline)  – as of 7/1/2010.
2. Fair & Impartial Policing  –as of 7/1/2011.
3. Search & Rescue  –as of 7/1/2013.
4. Interacting with People Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis (Act 80) –as of June 2015.
5. Animal Cruelty -as of 7/1/2017.

Additional Council and Federally-mandated training courses for Level II certification (Phase 2 - Following Successful Completion of Phase 1):

1. Use of Force & Tactics (24-hour Defensive Tactics component for all. If the officer will carry a baton and OC in the course of their duties, those additional components are required). Council requirement as of January, 2014.
2. First Aid – may include any or all of First Aid, CPR and/or AED.
3. Basic Crime Scene Investigation – Council requirement as of September 2015.
4. Bloodborne Pathogens.
5. HAZMAT.
6. ICS (FEMA course; Vermont Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security State Plan requires ICS 100 and 200.
7. Any other course required by law or approved by the Council.

During the same 12-month period the officer must satisfactorily complete a Council Certified Field Training and Evaluation Program. This can be accomplished concurrently with the completion of Phase II training and must include a minimum number of hours as established by the Council, but no fewer than sixty (60) hours, on performance of pertinent tasks observed and evaluated by a Council Certified Field Training Officer who attests to successful completion of those tasks.

Upon successful completion of all three phases of training, the Executive Director shall issue a Level II officer certification to replace the provisional certification, thereby granting full law enforcement authority for a limited scope of practice. (20 V.S.A. § 2358(b)(2)(B))

Additional Council and State-mandated courses for Level III certification

1. RADAR.
2. VIN.
3. Basic Fingerprinting.
4. DUI.
5. First Aid and/or CPR/AED.
6. A.R.I.D.E. training (must be completed within 36 months of graduation from the Level III program, effective May 2015).
7. Conducted Electrical Weapon (C.E.W.) (Note: only required if the officer is assigned/carries a C.E.W. device).

NOTE: Officers previously trained in any of these components from a Level II certification are not required to re-take any of those courses as part of the Level III post-basic program.

Annual Training Requirements for all Levels:

Rule 13 MANDATORY ANNUAL IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Additional Requirements:

1. C.E.W. recertification (only required if the officer is assigned/carries a C.E.W. device).
2. Interacting with People Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis (Act 80) – all Vermont Officers must have attended this class by 6/30/2017. This course is only required to be completed once.
3. Domestic Violence In-Service - completed every two years (even-numbered years).
4. Fair and Impartial Policing In-Service - completed every two years (odd-numbered years).

Federally mandated training components (Levels I-III):

• The following topics are found within OSHA standards. Additional information is available online by reviewing the link at: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=19931

1. Bloodborne Pathogens
2. HAZMAT
3. ICS
4. Fire extinguisher use
5. Personal protective equipment (i.e. reflective vests, eye/ear protection for firearms training)
6. Hearing conservation (i.e. impulse noise from firearms training)