BLEOST Bridge Program

BLEOST PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME BRIDGE PROGRAM

The BLEOST Part-Time to Full-Time Bridge Program provides a pathway for eligible part-time law enforcement officers to obtain full-time law enforcement certification through successful completion of the Board-approved evaluation process. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Hold a current and valid part-time law enforcement certification issued by the Mississippi Board of Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training (BLEOST).
• Be currently appointed as a part-time, reserve, or auxiliary law enforcement officer.
• Have completed a minimum of five (5) consecutive years of qualifying service.
• Have performed a minimum of forty (40) duty hours per month during the qualifying period. 
• Submit a notarized affidavit from the agency head verifying service, activity, and good standing.
• Meet all minimum employment standards established in Chapter 2 of the BLEOST Professional Certification Policy and Procedures Manual. 

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have served in a part-time capacity in one of the following positions, or another position approved by the Board:

• An instructor in a Board-approved academy, or an instructor or student in criminal justice or a related field at an institution of higher learning.
• An investigator for a district attorney's office or a state agency responsible for the enforcement of criminal statutes.
• A municipal police officer, county deputy sheriff, or other law enforcement officer appointed or employed by a recognized political subdivision of any state, province, or territory of the United States who:
  • Is vested with the authority to bear arms and make arrests; and
  • Has a primary duty of the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, and enforcement of criminal or traffic laws.

EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must successfully complete the following evaluation components:

• Equivalency Examination (minimum of 70%)
• Physical Fitness Assessment (minimum of 50%)
• Subject Control and Defensive Tactics (SSGT)
• Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC)
• Firearms Qualification

APPROVED TESTING LOCATIONS

• Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy (MLEOTA)
• Harrison County Law Enforcement Training Center
• Mississippi Delta Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy
• Southern Regional Public Safety Institute
• North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center

APPLICATION PROCESS

Prior to scheduling any testing or evaluation, agencies must submit documentation demonstrating that the applicant has completed a minimum of five (5) consecutive years of qualifying part-time law enforcement service and has performed a minimum of forty (40) duty hours per month during the qualifying period. 

The agency must submit the supporting documentation along with a completed Law Enforcement Agency Affidavit certifying that the information and documentation provided are true, correct, and supported by agency records. 

Examples of acceptable documentation may include personnel records, documentation from a human resources office, clerk's office records, payroll records, pay stubs, timesheets, schedules, or other agency records demonstrating qualifying service and monthly duty hours. 

Documentation and affidavits should be submitted electronically to:

Amy Vanderford
Director, Office of Standards and Training
avanderford@dps.ms.gov

Upon review and approval of the submitted documentation, the Office of Standards and Training will provide the agency with an approved Bridge Program Skills Evaluation Form. The agency may then contact one of the Board-approved training academies to schedule the required testing and evaluation components. 

NOTICE: In accordance with Miss. Code Ann. §97-7-10 and §97-7-11, fraudulent statements, omissions, misrepresentations, or the submission of false documentation may constitute criminal offenses. These statutes provide for penalties including a fine of up to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and imprisonment for a term not to exceed five (5) years.

Any applicant, agency representative, agency head, or other individual who submits, certifies, or attests to false information may be subject to criminal prosecution and administrative action. Any certification obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, falsified records, or the submission of false information may be denied, suspended, revoked, or otherwise subject to action by the Board.

The Office of Standards and Training reserves the right to investigate any application, affidavit, supporting documentation, or certification issued through the Bridge Program. Submitted documentation may be independently verified through employment records, payroll records, personnel files, and other official sources. When necessary, the Office may utilize administrative subpoenas and other lawful means to obtain records and verify information submitted in support of an application. Evidence of fraud, misrepresentation, falsified records, or material omissions may result in referral to the Board for appropriate action.

FORMS AND RESOURCES

The following forms are required as part of the BLEOST Part-Time to Full-Time Bridge Program process:

• Law Enforcement Agency Affidavit

QUESTIONS

For additional information regarding the BLEOST Part-Time to Full-Time Bridge Program, please contact the Office of Standards and Training.