(a) When a certified law enforcement officer employed by the Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training or a state-funded law enforcement training academy retires from service or dies while still employed with the division or the state-funded law enforcement training academy, in recognition of and appreciation for the service of the retiring or deceased certified law enforcement officer, the division or the state-funded law enforcement training academy may award the pistol carried by the certified law enforcement officer at the time of his or her death or retirement from service to:
(1) The certified law enforcement officer; or
(2) The certified law enforcement officer's spouse if the spouse is eligible under applicable state and federal laws to possess a firearm.
(b)
(1) A certified law enforcement officer employed by the division or a state-funded law enforcement training academy may retain his or her pistol he or she carried at the time of his or her retirement from service.
(2) If the certified law enforcement officer dies while he or she is employed by the division or a state-funded law enforcement training academy, his or her spouse may receive or retain the pistol carried by the certified law enforcement officer at the time of his or her death, if the spouse is eligible under applicable state and federal laws to possess a firearm.