AR POST cheat sheet

CLEST = Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training; established under Arkansas Code Title 12, Chapter 9 (Subchapter 1 for law enforcement, Subchapter 2 for detention).

Commission consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor; includes representatives of law enforcement, sheriffs, chiefs, and the public.

Certification requirements for law enforcement officers: U.S. citizenship, high school diploma or GED, minimum age 21 (or 18 for detention), no felony convictions, no disqualifying misdemeanors, successful completion of ALETA basic training, and passing the certification exam.

The Commission may deny, suspend, or revoke certification for violations including felony conviction, excessive force, dishonesty, or failure to meet training standards.

Officers must complete 16 hours of in-service training annually; CLEST approves the training and maintains records.

CLEST Form 1 is the application for certification; Form 2 is the employment separation form; Form 3 is the training academy application; other forms are listed in the CLEST rules.

Arkansas Code § 12-9-108 requires officers to be certified within one year of employment; provisional certification may be granted for up to one year.

Reciprocity: Officers certified in another state may obtain Arkansas certification by completing the legal and firearms portions of the basic academy and passing the exam, if their state's standards meet or exceed Arkansas's.

CLEST publishes the Arkansas Law Enforcement Standards and Training Rules; the rules are updated periodically and available on the CLEST website.

ALETA basic training is a minimum of 600 hours (approximately 16 weeks) covering topics such as criminal law, patrol procedures, investigations, firearms, defensive tactics, and emergency vehicle operations.

The curriculum is set by CLEST and includes mandatory blocks on Arkansas law, community policing, de-escalation, and mental health response.

Testing: written exams require a minimum score of 70% for each block; firearms qualification requires a minimum of 70% (or as specified by CLEST) on the standard course.

Academy applicants must pass a physical fitness test, a medical exam, a psychological exam, and a background investigation prior to admission.

Instructors must be certified by CLEST and complete instructor development training.

The academy uses a pass/fail system for practical exercises; failure to meet standards may result in remediation or dismissal.

Recruit officers are evaluated on academics, practical skills, and conduct; a final comprehensive exam must be passed to graduate.

ALETA is located in Camden, Arkansas; it is the primary basic training academy for the state.

Advanced training includes specialized courses such as criminal investigation, K-9, SWAT, crime scene processing, and leadership development.

Pre-approved training: CLEST maintains a list of pre-approved courses that satisfy in-service requirements without individual application; these include certain online and regional courses.

Officers may request approval for non-pre-approved courses by submitting a course description and objectives to CLEST for review.

Annual in-service requirement: 16 hours, which may include legal update, firearms qualification, and defensive tactics.

Advanced certification: Officers may obtain advanced certification by meeting experience and training requirements (e.g., 5 years of service and 80 hours of advanced training).

Training records must be maintained by the agency and reported to CLEST; officers are responsible for ensuring their records are accurate.

CLEST may grant credit for training received in other states or through federal programs if the training meets Arkansas standards.

Instructor certification requires completion of a CLEST-approved instructor development course and maintenance of certification through continuing education.

Telecommunicators must complete a 40-hour basic telecommunicator training program approved by CLEST within one year of employment.

Training topics include call handling, radio procedures, emergency medical dispatch (if applicable), legal issues, and stress management.

Telecommunicators must complete 8 hours of in-service training annually.

Certification requirements: high school diploma or GED, no felony convictions, and successful completion of the basic training program.

CLEST sets standards for telecommunicator training and certification; agencies must report employment and separation.

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certification is required for telecommunicators who provide medical instructions; EMD training is typically 24 hours.

Telecommunicators must maintain confidentiality of criminal justice information and comply with NCIC/ACIC rules.

Continuing education may include courses on new technology, crisis intervention, and legal updates.

Arkansas Code § 12-9-201 et seq. establishes standards for criminal detention facilities; CLEST adopts and enforces these standards.

Detention officer certification: minimum age 18, high school diploma or GED, no felony convictions, and completion of a 40-hour basic detention officer training program within one year of employment.

Detention officers must complete 16 hours of in-service training annually.

The Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committee (CDFRC) inspects local detention facilities and reviews compliance with standards.

Facilities are classified as temporary, short-term, or long-term; standards vary by classification.

The review committee may issue notices of non-compliance and require corrective action plans.

Detention facility standards cover areas such as sanitation, food service, medical care, visitation, and use of force.

CLEST may decertify detention officers for violations similar to those for law enforcement officers.

LESO = Law Enforcement Support Office; it is the Department of Defense program that transfers excess military equipment to law enforcement agencies (the 1033 Program).

Eligible agencies must be federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies with arrest powers; they must sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

LESO property is transferred at no cost except for shipping and handling; agencies must pay for transportation.

Agencies must maintain accountability of LESO property, conduct annual inventories, and report any loss, theft, or damage.

Controlled property (e.g., firearms, aircraft, vehicles) requires special approval and has additional reporting requirements.

The LESO program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) for the state of Arkansas.

Agencies must have a written policy for the use of LESO equipment and must train personnel on its proper use.

LESO property may be recalled by the DLA if no longer needed or if the agency is non-compliant.

The 1033 Program was created by the National Defense Authorization Act of 1997.