Attention retirees:
So you want to be a cop again?
Last November, P.L. 2016 Chapter 68 was
signed into law, creating a new class of special
law enforcement officers (SLEO) who are spe-
cifically designated to educational facilities.
The PBA was involved in drafting the bill and
was successful in protecting current school
resource officers (SRO) by demanding that the
legislation provided that current SROs not be
displaced. During negotiations, the chiefs of
police were cooperative and agreed to the terms
that President Colligan put forth.
Joseph Walsh, the deputy attorney general
assigned to administer the Police Training Commission (PTC),
recently asked me to spread the word to the retired members of
our organization about the requirements and specifications of
Class III officers.
The PTC began processing waiver requests on July 1, 2017 and
was informed that the first Class III was certified at the meeting
on August 2, 2017. The requirements are as follows:
1. The applicant must be a retired law enforcement officer
who has previously been certified and worked full-time
and served in a municipality or county of this state or as
a member of the New Jersey State Police.
2. The member must be retired from that agency in good
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NEW JERSEY COPS
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standing (it is necessary to have a letter of good standing
issued by the agency from which the officer retired, list-
ing the date and type of retirement).
3. Must be less than 65 years of age before appointment.
4. Must pass psychological exam.
5. Must pass a medical exam and have a doctor complete a
medical certification form.
6. Must pass a drug test pursuant to the attorney general’s
law enforcement drug testing policy.
7. Must have an updated background investigation.
8. Break in service: During the first year of the program (July
1, 2017 to June 30, 2018), a new SLEO III break in service
may not exceed five years. After the first year, the candi-
date may not have a break in service of over three years.
9. The candidate must complete an SRO training course
within 12 months of the appointment.
The reason for the legislation was greatly due to the need for
trained law enforcement officers in educational facilities who
could train with the local police department for emergency sit-
uations. These officers have very strict jurisdictional boundar-
ies that will protect our full-time positions while keeping our
children safe. d