(a) Beginning June 1, 2026, an individual qualifying for election as Sheriff of Escambia County or any individual appointed to serve as a sheriff shall meet all of the following minimum qualifications, in addition to any other qualifications required by law: (1) The individual is a citizen of the United States. (2) The individual has been a resident of the county for at least one year immediately prior to the qualification date. (3) The individual has the qualifications of an elector pursuant to state and federal law and has been registered to vote in the county at least one year immediately prior to qualifying. (4) The individual has been awarded a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. (5) The individual is 25 years of age or older prior to qualifying. (6) The individual has three or more years of full-time prior service as a law enforcement officer having the power of arrest, is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission, and has not been separated from full-time active law enforcement certified through the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission for more than one year from the date of qualifying, or in the event the individual has been separated from active law enforcement for more than one year, the individual has obtained a recertification of full-time active law enforcement status from the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission prior to the date of qualifying. In addition, if the individual has ever retired from active law enforcement, he or she must have three or more years of full-time post-retirement law enforcement service prior to the date of qualifying. (7) The individual has never been convicted of a felony criminal offense in this state or convicted of a criminal offense in another jurisdiction where a conviction of the offense would be considered a felony in this state. (b) Upon election, the sheriff of the county shall attend annually a minimum of 12 hours of executive level continuing education approved by the Alabama Sheriffs Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, or any other recognized executive level continuing education program designed for law enforcement.
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