HR 218 Qualification
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004

Description:
With the new legislation that passed regarding nationwide carry by law enforcement personnel, the Florida CJSTC implemented an annual qualification course of fire. This same course of fire is to be utilized for qualification of retired personnel wanting to meet the established criteria for this law. D & R Training and Consulting, Inc. has all CJSTC certified firearms instructors and is therefore able to provide this service to our retired law enforcement clients that meet the requirements established in the law.

This qualification course of fire is scheduled for various dates and times and by appointment. Any personnel who meet the requirements outlined below and who want to obtain the CJSTC Firearms Proficiency Verification Card should check the events calendar for available dates, or contact us at (772) 288-2676 for an appointment or more information.

Equipment Required:

• Handgun
• Duty belt with holster
• Speed loader/Magazine pouches
• Minimum of 2 speed loaders or 3 magazines
• Clothing suitable for all weather conditions
• Wrap around eye protection
• Ear protection
• Cap with brim
• Hydration source

Ammunition Needed:

• At least 150 cartridges of handgun ammunition

"Qualified Law Enforcement Officer" means an individual who;

• Is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and has statutory powers of arrest;
• Is authorized by the agency to carry a firearm;
• Is not the subject of any disciplinary action by the agency;
• Meets standards, if any, established by the agency which require the employee to regularly qualify in the use of a firearm;
• Is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance; and
• Is not prohibited by Federal law from receiving a firearm.

"Qualified Retired Law Enforcement Officer" means an individual who;

• Retired in good standing from service with a public agency as a law enforcement officer, other than for reasons of mental instability;
• Before such retirement, was authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and had statutory powers of arrest;
• (A) before such retirement, was regularly employed as a law enforcement officer for an aggregate of 15 years or more; or
• (B) retired from service with such agency, after completing any applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service-connected disability, as determined by such agency;
• Has a non-forfeitable right to benefits under the retirement plan of the agency;
• During the most recent 12-month period, has met, at the expense of the individual, the State's standards for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms;
• Is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance; and
• Is not prohibited by Federal law from receiving a firearm.

Required Identification:

• Under H.R. 218, the identification required to be carried by qualified retired law enforcement officers can be either:
• (1) A photographic identification issued by the agency from which the individual retired from service as a law enforcement officer that indicates that the individual has, not less recently than one year before the date the individual is carrying the concealed firearm, been tested or otherwise found by the agency to meet the standards established by the agency for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm of the same type as the concealed firearm or
• (2) (A) a photographic identification issued by the agency from which the individual retired from service as a law enforcement officer; and
         (B) a certification issued by the State in which the individual resides that indicates that the individual has, not less recently than one year before the date the individual is carrying the concealed firearm, been tested or otherwise found by the State to meet the standards established by the State for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm of the same type as the concealed firearm." (The CJSTC-authorized card would be "certification issued by the State.)

Note that under the first option, the retiree must fire the firearms standards applicable to the agency’s active officers. Since agencies may hold their officers to a higher firearms standard than the state’s minimum standards, an agency’s standards may be tougher than the state’s minimum standards.