Guest columnist: Robert "Bob" NeVille is the program coordinator for the Administration of Justice Department at College of the Siskiyous. He holds a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelors Degree in Business Management, both from Arizona State University. NeVille has worked for College of the Siskiyous since 1994. Prior to coming to COS, he spent nearly 21 years as a Phoenix, Arizona, police officer and sergeant before retiring and relocating to Siskiyou County. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Instructor Development Course.
Beginning July 1, 1999, the reserve officer training requirements for California Commission on Peace Officer Standard Training (POST) Certification for reserve police officers are changing statewide. Additional hourly training mandates will now be required after July 1, 1999. To help address questions about the new requirements, I have used a question and answer format to provide answers for most questions.
Q: What are the new changes in the reserve officer training?
A: Basically, there will be two training components to the Level III certification. Level II will increase training hours from 99 hours to 229 hours.
Q: Let’s talk about the Level III Certification first. What are the two components for the new Level III training?
A: After July 1, Level III Certification will consist of two training modules. Those modules will be 64 hours of Module A Reserves (PC 832) and a minimum of 98 hours of a new class called Level III Certification.
Q: You say a "minimum" are you offering more hours for these two classes?
A: Yes. COS will be offering the Module A Reserves (PC 832) as a 67 hour course. This course will not change from previous years. The new Level III Certification course will consist of 101 hours of additional instruction. A student will have a total of 168 hours of instruction.
Q: That is a lot of hours. How are you going to structure the class time?
A: The Module A Reserve class will be taught as a "Fast-Track" course beginning August 17 and ending on Sept. 8th. A week later, Sept. 13th, the Level III Certification course will start. It will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights. It will end on or about December 1, 1999.
Q: Can I take either course, or is Module A prerequisite to take Level III Certification?
A: Module A is a prerequisite. You cannot take Level III without first taking Module A Reserves.
Q: Why would I take Module A and not continue on to take Level III Certification?
A: Basically, because a student may only need Module A for their ADJ Certificate from COS. In addition, those students who wish to enter the correctional officer training course in October only need the Module A (PC 832) course.
Q: What certificates will I be issued?
A: If you complete the Module A portion, you will receive a certificate stating that you successfully completed the "Module A Reserves" with 67 hours of training. If you complete both components, you will receive a second certificate as a Level III Reserve Officer for the State of California indicating 168 hours of training.
Q: You spoke earlier about a July 1 start date. What if I previously certified as Level III Reserve officer under the old hourly requirement?
A: If you get hired by a police department as a Level III reserve officer on or before June 30, 1999, you will not have to take the additional 101 hours.
Q: What if I do not get hired by June 30, do I still have to take the 101 hours of training?
A: Yes. If you do not get hired or picked up by a police department by June 30, 1999, you will have to take the additional 101 hours if you wish to become a Level III reserve officer.
Q: With this additional training, are there going to be additional responsibilities for a Level III reserve officer?
A: Yes! Under the new law, a Level III reserve officer will now have limited support duties under the direct supervision of a regular officer. These duties will include such things as, traffic control, security at parades, report writing, evidence transportation, parking enforcement, and may transport prisoners without immediate supervision.
Q: Are both modules degree applicable?
A: Yes, both Module A and Level III Certification are degree applicable courses.
Q: What are the units for each class?
A: Module A carries three units of credit. Level III Certification will carry six units of credit.
Q: Will Module A and Level III Certification be taught both fall and spring semesters?
A: No. Module A Reserves and Level III Certification will only be taught in the fall.
Q: So, what about Level II? What are the changes here?
A: Level II Reserves will go from the present 99 hours to 229 hours of instruction.
Q: If I do not get hired by June 30, 1999, do I have to take the 229 hours?
A: Sort of. POST is trying to extend the deadline to 2001 to be hired as a Level II reserve officer before requiring the new hours.
Q: You say "sort of." Is there is a possibility that this will not happen?
A: Yes! POST will not meet until July 15, 1999 to act on this request. So, my advise would be to take the hours and be assured a Level II position in case the commission decides to leave the June 30 date intact. If you get hired on or before June 30, 1999 you will not have to take the additional 229 hours.
Q: What if I took the 99 hours at COS. Can I make up the remaining 130 hours?
A: No. If you decide to pursue Level II Certification, you must enroll in the entire 229 hour course, even if you had completed the previous 99 hours.
Q: When will this course be offered?
A: This course will be offered in the spring semester only. It will start on January 19, 2000 and be offered every spring semester thereafter.
Q: What certificates will I get if I complete the 229 hours?
A: You will receive a certificate as a Level II Reserve Police Officer for the State of California.
Q: Like Level III, are there additional work-related responsibilities that go along with this certification?
A: Yes! As a new Level II reserve officer you will now be able to perform general law enforcement functions under the direct supervision of a regular officer. You will also be able to perform all Level III support duties without any direct supervision.
Q: Can I take Level II without Level III Certification?
A: No. Level III Certification, which includes the two components, is a prerequisite to take Level II Certification.
Q: We’ve talked about Level III and II certifications. What happened to Level I certification?
A: Level I certification will no longer be taught at the College. In order for a person to be a Level I reserve officer, he/she must graduate from a basic academy.
Q: So, what about the 77 hours of Level I training? Can they count toward any of the new Level III or II training?
A: No. The 3 units earned may be applied toward graduation requirements only. However, they may count toward module D.
Q: But, I have had all 3 reserve modules, A,B and C at COS. Is there a way I can make up the balance of the hours to become a regular officer after June 30th, without attending the new courses?
A: Yes. If you have completed all three modules and want to attend Module D to obtain the balance of the regular course you may do so.
Q: Where are module D classes taught?
A: The closest places that offer Module D is Yuba College and Fresno.
Q: How many hours additional will I have to take for Module D?
A: Yuba offers a 461 hour module D course.
Q: Is there a time limit for a student to take Module D?
A: Yes. Anyone who has completed ALL 3 modules (Level III, Level II and Level I under the old hourly system) will have until June 30, 2001 to attend a Module D. However, after June 30, 1999 Module D will be the only option for those who had the old training hours. Others will have to attend the new courses and attend the 344 hours of modular instruction once it is in place.
Q: It looks like COS is offering about half the hours of a basic academy. Is there something in the works where a student could go to an academy and just take the remaining 344 hours needed to be a regular police officer?
A: Yes. At least this is our hope and POST is currently working on this. We will be offering 397 hours of Level III/II reserve training. This means that a person could go to a participating academy and take the additional 344 hours and be an academy graduate, eligible to be hired as a regular officer.
Q: Are there any participating academies?
A: Not at this time. As I mentioned, POST is working on a modular format for academies to provide the 344 hourly balance of instruction. However, at this time no academy may do this until after the June 30, 1999 start date for the new requirements.
Q: Is there anything else that the readers should know?
A: This information can be confusing. If anyone has any questions that were not answered here. They may call me at (530) 938-5251 and I will walk them through this maze.
If anyone has additional questions about these programs, call me at the Weed Campus, 530/ 938-5251.