{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-5-107.04","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 5-107.04","heading":"Duties of the Board.","body":"(a)\nThe Board shall establish minimum application and appointment criteria for the Metropolitan Police Department that include the following:\n(1)\nThat an applicant be a citizen or national of, or person lawfully admitted for permanent residence in, the United States at the time of application;\n(2)\nAge limits;\n(3)\nHeight and weight guidelines;\n(4)\nPhysical fitness and health standards;\n(5)\nPsychological fitness and health standards;\n(6)\nThe completion of a criminal background investigation;\n(7)\nThe consideration to be placed on an applicant’s participation in court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense at any time from application through appointment;\n(8)\nThe consideration to be placed on an applicant’s criminal history, including juvenile records;\n(9)\nThe completion of a background investigation;\n(10)\nMilitary discharge classification information;\n(11)\nInformation on prior service with the Metropolitan Police Department; and\n(12)\nIf the applicant has prior service with another law enforcement or public safety agency in the District or another jurisdiction, information on any alleged or sustained misconduct or discipline imposed by that law enforcement or public safety agency.\n\n(b)\nNotwithstanding the minimum standards established by the Board in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Chief of Police may deny employment to any applicant based upon conduct occurring while the applicant was a minor if, considering the totality of the circumstances, the Chief of Police determines that the applicant has not displayed the good moral character or integrity necessary to perform the duties of a sworn member of the Metropolitan Police Department.\n\n(c)\nEach applicant selected for appointment as a sworn member of the Metropolitan Police Department shall successfully complete an initial training program and initial firearms training program before deployment, including minimum requirements developed by the Board, unless the applicant receives a waiver pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.\n\n(d)\nThe Board shall determine minimum requirements for the initial training program and initial firearms training program for Metropolitan Police Department recruits, including the appropriate sequence, content, and duration of each program, and:\n(1)\nThe minimum number of hours required;\n(2)\nIf and under what circumstances the initial training program will include temporary deployment of the applicant before regular deployment as a sworn member; and\n(3)\nThe subjects to be included as part of every applicant’s initial training.\n\n(e)\nThe Chief of Police may modify or waive the initial training program and initial firearms training program requirements for either of the following:\n(1)\nAny applicant who is a former sworn member of the Metropolitan Police Department who has been separated from employment with the Metropolitan Police Department for less than 3 years; or\n(2)\nAny former member of a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency who has completed training similar to the Metropolitan Police Department’s initial training program and initial firearms training program and who has been separated from employment with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency for less than 3 years.\n\n(f)\nThe Board shall determine minimum requirements for a continuing education program for sworn members of the Metropolitan Police Department, including:\n(1)\nRequirements for a continuing education firearms training program; and\n(2)\nThe appropriate consequence, including ineligibility for promotion, if a member fails to satisfy the continuing education requirement.\n\n(f-1)\nThe Board shall develop and operate a training program, in coordination with the Department of Health, the Department of Aging and Community Living, and the Office of the Attorney General, that includes:\n(1)\nInstruction on best practices for identifying, and interacting with individuals living with, Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias, and the risks such individuals face, such as wandering and elder abuse;\n(2)\nInitial training, required to be completed after appointment, that covers the following topics:\n(A)\nNeurological, psychiatric, and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias;\n(B)\nCommunication issues, including how to communicate respectfully and effectively with individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias in order to determine the most appropriate response, and effective communication techniques to enhance collaboration with caregivers;\n(C)\nTechniques for understanding and approaching behavioral symptoms and identifying alternatives to physical restraints;\n(D)\nIdentifying and reporting incidents of abuse, neglect, and exploitation to Adult Protective Services;\n(E)\nProtocols for contacting caregivers when an individual living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias is found wandering or during emergency or crisis situations; and\n(F)\nLocal caregiving resources that are available for individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias; and\n(3)\nRequired continuing education that covers the subjects described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.\n\n(g)\nThe Metropolitan Police Department may utilize the services of other law enforcement agencies or organizations engaged in the education and training of law enforcement personnel to satisfy any portion of the initial training program, the initial firearms training program, or the continuing education program pursuant to this section.\n\n(h)\nThe Board shall establish the minimum requirements for any instructor of any component of the Metropolitan Police Department’s initial training program, continuing education program, or firearms training program.\n\n(i)\nThe Board shall establish minimum selection and training standards for members of the District of Columbia Housing Authority Police Department.\n\n(j)\nThe Board shall also review and make recommendations to the Chief of Police, the Mayor, and the Council, regarding:\n(1)\nThe Metropolitan Police Department’s tuition assistance program;\n(2)\nThe optimal probationary period for new members of the Metropolitan Police Department pursuant to subsection (q) of this section;\n(3)\nThe issue of creating separate career tracks for patrol and investigations;\n(4)\nMinimum standards for continued level of physical fitness for sworn members of the Metropolitan Police Department; and\n(5)\nThe Metropolitan Police Department Reserve Corps program’s training and standards.\n\n(k)\nThe minimum standards set by the Board pursuant to subsections (a), (d), (f), and (h) of this section shall not preclude the Metropolitan Police Department from establishing higher standards, including standards regarding its application, initial training, and continuing education programs at the department.\n\n(l)\nThe minimum standards set by the Board pursuant to subsection (i) of this section shall not preclude the District of Columbia Housing Authority Police Department from establishing higher standards.\n\n(m)\nNot later than December 31 of each calendar year, the Board, through the Chief of Police, shall deliver a report to the Mayor and the Council concerning the Metropolitan Police Department’s initial training program, continuing education program, and firearms training program. The report shall include:\n(1)\nThe number of:\n(A)\nApplicants who have successfully completed the application process;\n(B)\nApplicants who have completed the initial training program;\n(C)\nSworn members who have completed the continuing education and firearms training programs;\n(2)\nAn assessment of the Metropolitan Police Department’s compliance with the Board’s prescribed minimum standards for each of its application and training programs pursuant to this section;\n(3)\nRecommendations where the Board believes that the Metropolitan Police Department’s current standards for applicants, initial training including firearms training, and continuing education can be improved; and\n(4)\nAn overall assessment of the Metropolitan Police Department’s current and planned recruiting efforts in light of public safety needs in the District.\n\n(n)\nThe administrative work of the Board shall be carried out by members of the Metropolitan Police Department as appointed by the Chief of Police.\n\n(o)\nAny applicant who met the age requirement at the time of application and who was denied appointment on the basis of racial discrimination, as determined by the Director of the Office of Human Rights, may be appointed notwithstanding the applicant’s age at the time of that determination.\n\n(p)\nApplications for appointment to the Metropolitan Police Department shall be made on forms furnished by the Metropolitan Police Department.\n\n(q)\nAppointments to the Metropolitan Police Department shall be for a probationary period to be determined by the Chief of Police. Continuation of service after the expiration of that period shall be dependent upon the conduct of the appointee and his or her capacity for the performance of the duties to which assigned, as indicated by reports of superior officers. The probationary period shall be an extension of the examination period.\n\n(r)\nIf the Police and Fire Clinic shall find any probationer physically or mentally unfit to continue his or her duties, that probationer shall be required to appear before the Police and Firefighters Retirement and Relief Board. That Board shall make any findings as are required pursuant to § 5-713, and those findings shall be incorporated in a recommendation submitted to the Mayor.\n\n(s)\nEach police officer appointed shall maintain a level of physical fitness to be determined by the Chief of Police. The final determination with respect to inappropriate fitness levels shall be made by the Medical Director of the Police and Fire Clinic.\n\n(t)\n(1)\nThe Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], may issue rules to implement the provisions of this section.\n(2)\nThe proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, by resolution, within this 45-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.","path":["Title 5. Police, Firefighters, Medical Examiner, and Forensic Sciences.","Chapter 1. Metropolitan Police.","Subchapter IV. Metropolitan Police Department Application, Appointment, and Training Requirements."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/5-107.04","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"b3cf7e12f9e3bb973a1dbb1009c93cff1fd96e4771c903d55800c94c23c331fe","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-5-107.03","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-5-109.01"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}