Opinion ID: 1101286
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: DOES MISS. CODE ANN. SECTION 45-6-11(3)(a) MANDATE CERTIFICATION FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH A DEGENERATIVE MEDICAL CONDITION WHO IS UNABLE TO ATTEND AND COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY?

Text: ¶ 18. Section 45-6-11(3)(a) states in relevant part: Any person, who, due to illness or other events beyond his control, could not attend the required school or training as scheduled, may serve with full pay and benefits in such a capacity until he can attend the required school or training. Miss.Code Ann. § 45-6-11(3)(a) (Supp. 1997). The Board contends that the chancellor created a loophole where none exists. The Board asserts that the above subsection pertains to newly hired law enforcement officers that are required to attend the academy within one year of the date of hire. However, if illness or events beyond their control, such as a death in the family, prevent them from attending within that year, this subsection above enables the government entity to continue to employ the trainee until such time as the trainee can attend. ¶ 19. Thus, Voyles should not be granted certification, because his injury prevents him from performing the physical training requirements, and it will likely never improve to the point where he could attend the academy. Voyles' doctor even stated in his letter to the Board that his condition will probably become progressively worse. Under the plain language of the section, the exception applies only to those who will later be able to attend. The chancellor's opinion would in effect mandate the Board to automatically certify any applicant with a degenerative medical condition who is unable to attend the academy. ¶ 20. Voyles does not contest the Board's interpretation of subsection (3)(a). Instead, Voyles correctly reads the chancellor's opinion as ratifying and approving his employment as a law enforcement officer since September 22, 1993, because he qualified under this subsection until his doctor determined he would likely never recover to the extent necessary to meet the physical requirements of the academy. Voyles points to Section 45-6-17(2), which imposes personal liability upon the state agency or political subdivision for the amount of payment for salaries to and equipment provided for any individual who does not meet the statute's requirements. Miss.Code Ann. § 45-6-17(2) (Supp.1997). ¶ 21. Voyles states that in his original application for certification, his appeal, and in this appeal the Board was asked to ratify and approve his past employment as a law enforcement officer. Voyles requested this ratification to ascertain that he was personally taking all necessary steps to bring himself within the statutory protection for injured officers and to give his employer, the Alcorn County Sheriffs Department, some protection from Section 45-6-17(2). Chancellor Ross recognized that the Board had not addressed this issue upon proper application and entered a determination based upon the uncontradicted evidence supporting the request. Voyles correctly cites Mississippi Dep't of Environmental Quality v. Weems where this Court held that where an administrative agency refuses to act, the appellate court is fully within its authority to make a determination. 653 So.2d 266, 276 (Miss. 1995). ¶ 22. This Court has held in regards to Section 45-6-11 as follows: All police officers are required to be certified as being qualified by the laws of the State of Mississippi in order to remain employed after a year. Section 45-6-11(3)(a) (1993) of the Miss.Code Ann. reads in pertinent part as follows: No person shall be employed as a law enforcement officer by any law enforcement unit for a period to exceed one (1) year unless that person has been certified as being qualified under the provisions of subsection (4) of this section. Clarksdale was required to dismiss Hawkins due to his failure to meet certain statutory requirements. Clarksdale v. Mississippi Emp. Sec. Com'n, 699 So.2d 578, 582-583 (¶ 23) (Miss.1997)(emphasis added). The same can be said of the Alcorn County Sheriffs Department for retaining Voyles from 1993 to 1997 without proper academy certification, except for the fact that he was injured in the line of duty before going to the academy and was thus unable to attend due to illness and events beyond his control under Section 45-6-11(3). ¶ 23. Therefore, the chancellor properly ratified and approved Voyles continued employment for four years without certification under Section 45-6-11(3) until such time as it became clear that his condition would never allow him to attend the academy. In so doing, the chancellor did not create a loophole where clearly none exists for the automatic certification of all those with a degenerative medical condition. The Board missed the point of the request for ratification of Voyles' past service. However, nothing in this issue should be read as to create a loophole for Voyles' continued employment.