Any police officer of any municipality in the State of Mississippi is required to annually complete a specified number of hours, as stated in this subsection, of continuing education courses which are approved by the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training. The following number of hours of continuing education courses is required for municipal police officers based upon the number of years following July 1, 2004: 0-2 years after July 1, 2004. . . . .8 hours of annual training
3-4 years after July 1, 2004. . . . .16 hours of annual training
5 or more years after July 1, 2004. . . . .24 hours of annual training
Such education courses may be provided by an accredited law enforcement academy or by the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.