A. The chief of police of a municipality shall be a peace officer and shall enforce the municipal ordinances. The chief of police of a municipality shall have such other powers, duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
B. Any person elected or appointed to the position of chief of police of a municipality shall meet the following qualifications:
1. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
2. Be a citizen of the United States;
3. Possess at least a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED);
4. Be certified as a peace officer in this state by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET), or meet all requirements necessary for CLEET certification and obtain such certification within six (6) months of assuming the position of chief of police or as otherwise allowed by Section 3311 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
5. Have successfully completed a course of training meeting at least the minimal criteria established by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) for police chief administration, successfully completed an approved police chief administrative school which has been developed by the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police and approved by the Council within twelve (12) months of assuming the position of chief of police.
C. 1. Any person who does not meet the qualifications of paragraph 4 or 5 of subsection B of this section at the time of election or appointment to the position of chief of police and who fails after assuming the position of chief of police to meet such qualifications within the time required shall have their CLEET certification revoked for the purpose of serving as chief and be removed from the position.
2. Any person assuming the position of chief of police without prior CLEET certification who fails to complete an approved course of training or police chief administration school within the time required shall be precluded from obtaining CLEET certification while in such position.
D. The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) shall establish minimal criteria for the qualifications of paragraph 5 of subsection B of this section relating to a course of training and police chief administration schools and approve all training offered in this state relating to police chief administration. The Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police in consultation and cooperation with the Council is directed to develop a Police Chief Administrative School consisting of training courses that meet at least the minimal criteria established by the Council.
E. The provisions of this act relating to qualifications for a chief of police shall not apply to any person who has assumed the position of chief of police and is currently serving as the chief of police of a municipality on or before November 1, 2006.
Added by Laws 1977, c. 256, § 34-102, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 33, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2013, c. 232, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.