Re-activation
Police officers who are changing employment from one Delaware Police Department to another Delaware Police Department need POST approval before beginning employment with the new department.
An employee status change form is required from the outgoing department and a re-employment application is required by the receiving (new) department. Those forms must be sent to POST within five days.
The information in those forms helps POST determine what requirements are needed for the applicant. Once POST review those forms, we will provide the chief of police with information and guidance for onboarding the officer to their department.
Re-activation Requirements of Police Officers
Inactive Status
Whenever a police officer required to be certified by the Delaware Police Officers Standards and Trainings Commission (POST) and Delaware Police Officers Accreditation Commission (DPAC) retires, resigns, or otherwise voluntarily or involuntarily leaves his or her employing law enforcement agency, the chief of the employing agency shall advise the Administrator of the separation in writing within five business days of the separation and identify the circumstances of the separation. This written notification is to be made utilizing the POST approved Status Change form.
Upon receiving notice of a police officer’s separation from law enforcement employment, the Administrator shall place that individual on inactive status. Once placed on inactive status, he or she is not authorized to exercise the powers of a police officer until such time as he or she meets the requirements for re-activation.
The Administrator may re-activate the individual’s certification upon written application from the individual that he or she has accepted another full-time police position with a law enforcement agency whose training is regulated by the POST and provided that the individual is not the subject of a decertification proceeding pursuant to Title 11 Del.C. §8404(4) and the individual meets all other criteria for re-activation which the Commission Board has adopted in subsection 8.2 of this regulation.
Re-activation Requirements
If not employed on a permanent basis for a period of less than 12 months, an individual must complete all in-service requirements mandated by the Commission Board pursuant to 11 Del.C. §8404(a)(5) prior to recommencing employment.
If not employed on a permanent basis for a period of greater than 12 months but less than 36 months, an individual must undergo the following:
- Medical background including:
Medical history / physical examination form
Physicians affidavit
Weight chart
Substance abuse screen
Eye exam
Hearing test - The results of a validated psychiatric / psychological test and interview, indicating competency to perform law enforcement duties.
- Current criminal history record check, including fingerprints obtained from the State Bureau of Investigations.
- Background investigation. Standardized form (IV-14) which consists of a minimum checklist.
- All training requirements prescribed by the Council, including, but not limited to First Responder and Firearms recertification.
- Firearms training.
If not employed on a permanent basis for a period of greater than 36 months but less than 60 months, an individual must undergo the following:
- Medical background including:
Medical history / physical examination form
Physicians affidavit
Weight chart
Substance abuse screen
Eye exam
Hearing test - The results of a validated psychiatric / psychological test and interview, indicating competency to perform law enforcement duties.
- Current criminal history record check, including fingerprints obtained from the State Bureau of Investigation.
- Background investigation. Standardized form (IV-14) which consists of a minimum checklist.
- First Responder recertification.
- Complete a Firearms basic certification course.
- Complete an academy basic criminal procedures, criminal law and traffic law course.
- Complete any other academic requirement imposed by the Administrator.
If not employed on a permanent basis for a period of greater than 60 months, an individual must satisfy all requirements imposed by the Administrator following a review of the individual’s training history and after approval by the POST Board Commission.
