Section 421.4. Waiver of training

(a) The Board upon request and for cause shown may extend the time up to 1 year for a newly-hired deputy sheriff to fulfill the basic training requirements of the act. Examples of good cause are:

(1) A medical problem.

(2) A family crisis or obligation.

(3) A conflict with other employment.

(b) The Board upon request may grant a deputy sheriff a reduction in the hours of basic training generally required. The determination will be based upon the Board’s evaluation of the prior education, training or experience of the deputy sheriff under the following criteria:

(1) The Board will grant a full waiver of basic training upon application by a deputy sheriff who has served a full, 4-year term as sheriff within this Commonwealth.

(2) A deputy sheriff in one or more of the following categories may apply for a partial waiver of basic training:

(i) Trained by the State Police and previously employed as a member of the State Police.

(ii) Certified as a municipal police officer in this Commonwealth.

(iii) Graduated from a course of basic training approved by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission.

(3) The Board will grant a partial waiver of basic training to a deputy sheriff in one or more of the categories in paragraph (2) who holds current certifications in basic first aid or its equivalent, adult/child/infant cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and police firearms range qualification.

(4) A deputy sheriff who has been granted a partial waiver of basic training shall be required to attend a waiver course of not more than 100 hours administered by the Board, attain at least a minimum score established by the Board on each written test and demonstrate proficiency in all practical skills. Prior to the commencement of instruction for which a test will be administered, the Board will notify the deputy sheriff of the minimum score required.

The provisions of this § 421.4 amended January 17, 2003, effective January 18, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 353. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (267350) to (267351).

Notation

Notes of Decisions

Sufficiency of the Evidence

The Board’s decision that the Allegheny County Police Academy’s training was not specifically focused upon or adapted to deputy sheriff’s skills and knowledge was not supported by substantial evidence, where the Board did not give due consideration to whether Allegheny County’s existing program adhered to all the training standards set forth in the act (not just promoting the most economic and efficient program for training) and by the Board, so as to warrant training credit. Coon v. Deputy Sheriff’s Education and Training Board, 533 A.2d 804 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987).