30:4-14.2. Training requirements for Human Services police officers

4. Human Services police officers appointed pursuant to R.S.30:4-14 shall satisfy the training requirements established by the Police Training Commission, at schools approved by the commission, as follows:

a. All officers appointed pursuant to this section after the effective date of P.L.1995, c.273 (C.30:4-14.1 et al.), shall successfully complete, within one year of the date of their appointment, a training course approved by the Police Training Commission.

All officers appointed pursuant to this section after the effective date of P.L.1997, c.72, shall successfully complete, within one year of the date of their appointment, a training course approved by the Police Training Commission, which shall include training designed to prepare officers to handle patients with violent criminal backgrounds and sensitivity training to prepare officers to handle abusive situations between employees and patients, and among patients;

b. All officers appointed and in employment on the effective date of P.L.1995, c.273 (C.30:4-14.1 et al.), may continue in employment if, within 18 months of the effective date of P.L.1995, c.273 (C.30:4-14.1 et al.), they have satisfied the training requirements of the Police Training Commission;

All officers appointed and in employment on the effective date of P.L.1997, c.72, may continue in employment if, within 18 months of the effective date of P.L.1997, c.72, they have successfully completed a training course approved by the Police Training Commission, which shall include training designed to prepare officers to handle patients with violent criminal backgrounds and sensitivity training to prepare officers to handle abusive situations between employees and patients, and among patients; and

c. The Commissioner of Human Services may request from the Police Training Commission an exemption from all or part of the training requirements of this section on behalf of a current or prospective officer who demonstrates successful completion of a police training course conducted by any federal, state or other public or private agency, the requirements of which are substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Police Training Commission, and which include training officers to handle patients with violent criminal backgrounds and sensitivity training pursuant to this section.

L.1995,c.273,s.4; amended 1997, c.72.