(a) (1) (A) A current or former certified law enforcement officer, chief of police, court bailiff, county sheriff, or retired law enforcement officer is exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter if otherwise authorized to carry a concealed handgun.

(B) A former certified law enforcement officer whose employment was terminated by a law enforcement agency due to disciplinary reasons or because he or she committed a disqualifying criminal offense is not exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter.

(2) Solely for purposes of this subchapter, an auxiliary law enforcement officer certified by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training and approved by the county sheriff of the county where he or she is acting as an auxiliary law enforcement officer is deemed to be a certified law enforcement officer.

(b) An employee of a local detention facility is exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter if the employee of a local detention facility is authorized in writing as exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter by the chief of police or county sheriff that employs the employee of a local detention facility.

(c) The authorization prescribed in subsection (b) of this section shall be carried on the person of the employee of a local detention facility and be produced upon demand at the request of any law enforcement officer or owner or operator of any of the prohibited places as set out in § 5-73-306.

(d) A retired law enforcement officer is exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter if the retired law enforcement officer is permitted to carry a concealed handgun under § 12-15-202(b).

(e) As used in this section, "employee of a local detention facility" means a person who:

(1) Is employed by a county sheriff or municipality that operates a local detention facility and whose job duties include:

(A) Securing a local detention facility;

(B) Monitoring inmates in a local detention facility; and

(C) Administering the daily operation of the local detention facility; and

(2) Has completed the minimum training requirements for his or her position.