The 1998 Omnibus Crime Bill (HB 455) legislation that made it possible for sheriffs and university police to participate in KLEFPF is also responsible for other sweeping changes in requirements for Kentucky law enforcement, including the Peace Officer Professional Standards Act (POPS).

POPS dictate what the minimum standard is for becoming a peace officer in Kentucky. The law requires applicants to law enforcement agencies in Kentucky to meet 16 pre-employment standards prior to becoming a peace officer in the state.

The standards include five physical fitness measures. To pass this component of POPS, applicants must be able to bench press 64 percent of their body weight, complete 18 sit-ups within one minute, finish a 300-meter run in 65 seconds, perform 20 push-ups and run 1.5 miles within 17 minutes and 12 seconds.

The POPS law also requires that applicants be U.S. citizens, be at least 21 years old, have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent, possess a valid driver's license, submit fingerprints for a criminal background check, not convicted of a felony offense, not prohibited by federal or state law from possessing a firearm, have read the Code of Ethics, and have not received a dishonorable discharge or general discharge under other than honorable conditions.

Applicants also must not have not had certification as a peace officer permanently revoked in another state, have a medical examination, have a background investigation, be interviewed by their potential employing agency's executive or designee, take a written suitability screener, pass a drug screen test and take a polygraph examination.

Results of a 2002 survey of the Department of Criminal Justice Training clients reflect that police chiefs, sheriffs and other law enforcement agency directors strongly agreed that POPS standards were responsible for advancing the Kentucky law enforcement community.

Law enforcement leaders across the state have been involved with POPS from the start.
The standards were developed in 1997 by a 68-member committee organized and facilitated by DOCJT executive staff. The committee included representatives from all Kentucky law enforcement professional associations, every size department, EKU's College of Justice & Safety, the Southern Police Institute, the Justice Cabinet, state law enforcement, legislators and community leaders.

The committee, led by executive staff of DOCJT, was formed to develop by consensus, statewide uniform standards that peace officers would have to meet in the hiring and selection process. The process took 10 months.

The goals of the POPS standards included improving the quality of people entering law enforcement, thus providing improved services to the citizens of Kentucky.

Prior to POPS, Kentucky only required peace officer applicants to be at least 21 years old, not convicted of a felony offense and hold a valid operator's license.