The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act (KLETA) K.S.A. 74-5601 et seq, and associated Kansas Administrative Regulations (KAR Agency 106) provides specific information about the requirements for applicants for certification as a Kansas law enforcement officer, the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the Central Registry, the in-service training requirement, and lapse of certification and the challenge exam process.
In order to become certified as a Kansas Law Enforcement Officer the individual must be employed by a law enforcement agency in the State of Kansas and meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be a United States Citizen;
- have been fingerprinted and a search of local, state and national fingerprint files made to determine whether the applicant has a criminal record;
- not have been convicted of crime that would constitute a felony under the laws of this state, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or a misdemeanor offense that the commission determines reflects on the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity or competence of the applicant as defined by rules and regulations of the commission;
- have (A) graduated from a high school accredited by the Kansas state board of education or the appropriate accrediting agency of another state jurisdiction; (B) obtained a high school education from a nonaccredited private secondary school as defined in K.S.A. 72-4345, and amendments thereto; or (C) obtained the equivalent of a high school education as defined by rules and regulations of the commission;
- be of good moral character sufficient to warrant the public trust in the applicant as a police officer or law enforcement officer;
- have completed an assessment, including psychological testing approved by the commission, to determine that the applicant does not have a mental or personality disorder that would adversely affect the ability to perform the essential functions of a police officer or law enforcement officer with reasonable skill, safety and judgment;
- be free of any physical or mental condition which adversely affects the ability to perform the essential functions of a police officer or law enforcement officer with reasonable skill, safety and judgment; and
- be at least 21 years of age.
Once employed, the individual is issued a provisional certification. The provisional certification allows the individual to work as a law enforcement officer pending their attendance and graduation from a Basic Training Academy, successful completion of reciprocity requirements (if they are certified in another State), or successful completion of the Challenge Exam, if previously certified but now lapsed in Kansas.
Once certified, officers must maintain the above minimum requirements and adhere to additional requirements as outlined in the KLETA and associated KAR’s.
Certification Actions are taken when an officer is in violation of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act.
Follow these links to access the:
KLETA (PDF version): Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act
KAR Agency 106: KSCPOST KAR’s