OAR 259-008-0000: Policies and Objectives

(1) The Board and Department adopt the following policies in response to ORS 181A.365: (a) The Board and Department exist to develop talented individuals into public safety providers who are: (A) Culturally competent; (B) Ethically, physically and emotionally fit; and (C) Well trained, highly skilled and responsive to the needs of their communities. (b) The Board and Department will promote the safety, efficiency, effectiveness, self-sufficiency and competence of public safety agencies and professionals. (c) The Board and Department will encourage participation among public and private security, law enforcement, telecommunications and corrections organizations, the related organizations with whom they work as well as the interests of the communities they serve. (d) The Board and Department will work together on matters related to public safety standards, training and certification. (e) The Board may adopt or approve any policy, standard or minimum requirement related to public safety certifications and training. (f) The Department may administer operations and procedures and implement or apply the policies and standards of the Board. (g) The Department is a full department of the state. (2) The objectives of the Board and Department are: (a) To improve public safety services in Oregon by raising the level of competence of public safety personnel and their support staffs: (A) By setting minimum standards for all levels of career development in areas such as employment; promotion; education; physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral fitness; and any other matter that relates to the competence and reliability of a person seeking employment or promotion within public safety. (B) By setting minimum standards for training and certifying public safety personnel for all levels of professional development, basic through executive; (C) By providing, sponsoring, certifying or coordinating training courses for public safety personnel. (b) To conduct and stimulate research to improve the police, fire service, corrections, adult parole and probation, emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator professions.