Update: Starting July 1, 2021, a retired law enforcement officer will be exempt from guard licensure if the retired officer: (A) (i) Completes the firearms and marksmanship training required by 62-35-118(b); and has a written directive issued by the executive supervisor of the organization (company) to which the person was attached or employed authorizing the person to carry a handgun; or (B) Is authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to 38-8-116 (b). If the retired officer does not meet this criteria, he/she would need to obtain a license before working as a guard.
We do not require the typical sixteen (16) hours of armed guard training from a state-certified trainer if:
- They are POST certified and provide a copy of their post certification.
- They provide a signed letter on department letterhead from the law enforcement office where they work (such as Metro PD, Millersville Police Department, etc.), stating they are a full-time sworn peace officer.
- They provide a copy of their most recent in-service training, with make, model, and caliber of weapon used.
Full-Time Sworn Peace Officers as it relates to Dallas Law
Per TCA § 62-35-103(7) a Full-Time Sworn Peace Officer is exempt from the security guard registration requirements. However, some have chosen to become registered, and I will explain how to comply with the Dallas’s Law requirements concerning First Aid, CPR, De-Escalation and Safe Restraint by submitting documentation of the training you have completed in each of these items. If you will provide the specific documentation and show that you have completed training in each of these areas, we can document and add the classifications to your Registration. This can also be accomplished by your comment of including a letter from your Training Officer attesting that these topics were specifically covered during the approved LE In-Service Training.
We accept a valid First Aid/CPR “Certification” from a number of providers. A Certification is considered a higher level than just “training” even though Dallas’s Law does not require certification. We also accept the “Stop The Bleed” training to satisfy First Aid requirements of the new law.
A class schedule from your annual Law Enforcement In-Service training that specifically shows the topic of De-Escalation and Safe Restraint training is also sufficient. I realize you may not get a “certificate” with every topic listed, but you should typically get a certificate showing that you completed the annual LE In-Service Training with the dates shown. This can also be accomplished by your comment of including a letter from your Training Officer attesting that these topics were specifically covered during the approved LE In-Service Training.