(1) Except for a person who has requested and obtained an extension from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, a person may not be employed as a police officer, or utilized as a certified reserve officer, by a law enforcement unit for more than 18 months unless the person:

(a)(A) Is a citizen of the United States; or

(B) Is a nonimmigrant legally admitted to the United States under a Compact of Free Association; and

(b) Has been certified as being qualified as a police officer or certified reserve officer under the provisions of ORS § 181A.355 to 181A.689 and the certification has not lapsed or been revoked pursuant to ORS § 181A.630, 181A.640 and 181A.650 (1) and not been reissued under ORS § 181A.650 (2).

(2) The department, upon the facts contained in an affidavit accompanying the request for an extension, may find good cause for failure to obtain certification within the time period described in subsection (1) of this section. If the department finds that there is good cause for failure to timely obtain certification, the department may extend for up to one year the period that a person may serve as a police officer or reserve officer without certification. The grant or denial of an extension is within the sole discretion of the department.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a person employed as a police officer by a law enforcement unit shall commence the training necessary for certification under ORS § 181A.355 to 181A.689 at an academy operated by the department not later than the 90th day after the date of the officer’s employment by the law enforcement unit.

(4) A law enforcement unit may delay the commencement of training of a police officer for up to 120 days from the date of the officer’s employment when it considers the delay necessary. When a law enforcement unit delays commencement of a police officer’s training under this subsection, the law enforcement unit shall file a written statement of the law enforcement unit’s reasons with the department.

(5) When a delay in the commencement of training necessary for certification under ORS § 181A.355 to 181A.689 at an academy operated by the department is caused by the inability of the department, for any reason, to provide that training, the period of the delay may not be counted as part of the periods set forth in subsections (3) and (4) of this section within which the training must be commenced.

(6) A person utilized as a certified reserve officer by a law enforcement unit must complete the training necessary for certification under ORS § 181A.355 to 181A.689 at a site approved by the department.

(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the law enforcement unit described in ORS § 181A.355 (12)(e) shall bear the expense of training necessary for certification under ORS § 181A.355 to 181A.689. [Formerly 181.665; 2017 c.53 § 2]