Statewide Background Investigation Manuals for POST Boards and Commissions

ProFirst Training and Consulting builds original background investigation manuals and companion training for state POST agencies — closing the gap between what's required and what's actually written down.

Does Your State Have a Background Investigation Manual?

Most states require a thorough background investigation before certifying a peace officer — but very few actually publish a standardized manual telling agencies how to conduct one. That gap leaves individual departments, especially small and rural agencies, writing their own procedures from scratch. The result is inconsistent hiring quality, audit exposure, and negligent hiring liability that follows agencies for years.

ProFirst conducted a comprehensive review of background investigation standards across all 50 states and found this gap is the rule, not the exception — the vast majority of states have no true procedural manual in place for member agencies to follow.

What ProFirst Training Delivers

ProFirst partners directly with POST boards and commissions to build an original, state-specific background investigation manual — plus a companion training course developed directly from that manual, so investigators aren't just handed a document, they're trained to use it.

What's Included

Original Background Investigation Manual —
- built specifically for your state's certification requirements, statutes, and agency structure
Statewide Training Program —
- a companion course developed directly from the manual, delivered to investigators statewide
Standardized Personal History Statement (PHS)
- a consistent, defensible applicant history form for use across all agencies
Standardized Waivers & Consent Forms —
- aligned with the manual and PHS, reducing legal exposure and inconsistency between departments
Online Manual Hosting (optional) —
- a secure, accessible portal so agencies and investigators can reference the manual and forms anytime

Our Five-Phase Delivery Process

Discovery & Gap Assessment — review of existing statutes, certification rules, and agency practices
Structural Framework — manual architecture built around your state's certification requirements
Draft Development — full manual, PHS, and waivers drafted in partnership with board staff
Stakeholder Review — feedback cycles with board members and agency leadership
Finalization & Rollout — final manual, forms, and training delivered statewide, with optional online hosting

Why ProFirst Training

ProFirst Training and Consulting is a nationally recognized provider of police background investigations, investigator training, and public safety consulting — with more than $1 million in government contract work and 1,000+ investigators trained nationwide. Our engagements include comprehensive training and consulting work with Philadelphia PD, Las Vegas Metropolitan PD, and Doña Ana County (NM), and executive-level background investigation work for agencies including the City of Lakewood, CO.