With proper credentials, retired Law Enforcement Officers are now allowed to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. In fact, the new law allows a person who has "honorably served" for 10 years to carry concealed without a permit

Senate Bill 1042 was signed into law on July 13, 2009 and was effective immediately.  The bill specifically states that the person must possess a photo ID from a law enforcement agency that states that the officer has "served for more than 10 consecutive years."  This limitation may not allow a retired officer to carry concealed until a new ID card is obtained.

I want to make it clear that we do not know if a "retired" ID card will suffice unless it clearly states the officer has honorably served for more than 10 years.  Senator Pearce told me that the legislative intent was to allow current retired ID cards to be sufficient.  To be prudent, we would suggest obtaining a new retired ID card.  We have seen one ID card that used the term "honorably served." That card was in the possession of Senator Pearce.

The bill also has a provision for out-of-state retired officers, who now reside in Arizona, to obtain an ID card in order to meet the requirement. The law states the Sheriff shall issue the ID card.

The new Law...

A PERSON WHO HAS HONORABLY SERVED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES FOR AT LEAST TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND WHO POSSESSES A PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT STATES THE PERSON HAS SERVED FOR AT LEAST TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES. ON REQUEST, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT MOST RECENTLY EMPLOYED THE PERSON OR, IF THE PERSON WAS EMPLOYED OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE, THE SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PERSON RESIDES SHALL ISSUE A PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION THAT VERIFIES THE PERSON MEETS THE REQUIREMENT OF THIS PARAGRAPH.

The bill also;

• Allows a sheriff to authorize members of his volunteer posse who have received AZPOST-approved firearms training to carry a deadly weapon without a CCW while on duty.
• States that the following people do not commit misconduct involving weapons while carrying a concealed weapon without a CCW on their person in specified circumstances:
• Community correctional officers, detention officers, special investigators and correctional officers of the Department of Juvenile Corrections.
• An authorized member of a sheriff’s volunteer posse who meets specified criteria.
• A person who has honorably served as a law enforcement officer in the U.S. for at least 10 consecutive years who can provide photographic evidence of this service.
• Increases the penalty from a Class 3 to a Class 2 felony for committing misconduct involving weapons while using, possessing or exercising control over a deadly weapon in furtherance of any act of terrorism or having reason to know that it will be used to facilitate any act of terrorism.
• Exempts AZPOST certified full authority peace officers who volunteer in a law enforcement agency’s reserve program from the firearms safety training program required to obtain a CCW.