WHERE TO MAIL ATTACHMENTS
Maryland State Police
Licensing Division
1111 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, Maryland 21208
Attn.: Handgun Permit Unit
Applications must be completed online through the link provided below. Personal visits are not encouraged and will not decrease the amount of time it takes an application to be processed.
WHO MAY APPLY
The Maryland Department of State Police provides State of Maryland Qualified Separated Law Enforcement Officer Certification to Carry a Concealed Handgun to those who have separated from the Maryland Department of State Police. The Maryland Department of State Police is not the sole provider of this opportunity and is not bound by law to honor requests but seeks to provide Qualified Separated Members of the Maryland Department of State Police Certifications to Carry a Concealed Firearm who are:
1. Qualified separated Maryland Department of State Police personnel (Troopers and Deputy State Fire Marshals).
Federal law defines a qualified separated law enforcement officer as an individual who:
1. Separated in good standing from service with a public agency as a law enforcement officer;
2. Before such separation, was authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and had statutory powers of arrest;
a. before such retirement, served as a law enforcement officer for an aggregate of 10 years or more; or
b. separated from service with such agency, after completing any applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service-connected disability, as determined by such agency;
3. During the most recent 12-month period, has met, at the expense of the individual, the standards for qualification in firearms training for active law enforcement officers, as determined by the former agency of the individual, the State in which the individual resides or, if the State, and
4. Has not been officially found by a qualified medical professional employed by the agency to be unqualified for reasons relating to mental health, and as a result of this finding, will not be issued the photographic identification as described; or
5. Has not entered into an agreement with the agency from which that individual is separating from service in which that individual acknowledges he or she is not qualified for reasons relating to mental health, and for those reasons, will not receive or accept the photographic identification as described.
6. Is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance; and
7. Is not prohibited by State and Federal law from receiving a firearm.
In addition to the aforementioned qualifications, 18 U.S. Code §926B and §926C, requires that applicants possess a photographic identification issued by the governmental agency (Maryland Department of State Police) from which the individual separated from service as a law enforcement officer.
COST TO APPLY
The Maryland Department of State Police charges a non-returnable fee of $8.00 for each application submitted for consideration. The fee may not be returned if your application is denied or returned for deficiencies.
DOCUMENTATION OF AUTHORIZATION
In addition to the electronic submission, initial applicants must submit to the Maryland State Police, Licensing Division, Handgun Permit Unit:
1. A front and back photocopy of your Maryland Department of State Police issued separated/retiree photo identification card;
2. A photocopy of your Maryland or Out-of State-Driver’s License identification card;
3. Form 29-40a -The completed and notarized “Authorization for Release of Information”;
4. Form 29-40c- Certification of Prior Law Enforcement Employment (MDSP Troopers);
5. Form 29-40d - Maryland State Police Trooper’s Request for Range Date (MDSP Only);
6. Form 29-40e - Documentation of Firearms Training for Separated Police Officers in Maryland;
7. Copy of the printed receipt from your successful eMDSP LEOSA application submission; and any
8. Required Supporting Documentation.
APPLICATION PROCESSING
You must establish an eMDSP account and electronically complete and submit the State of Maryland Qualified Separated Law Enforcement Officer Application for Certification to Carry a Concealed Firearm. The application can be accessed below.
Follow the directions as provided in the application submission process in eMDSP.
The fees will be collected as part of the electronic submission process. Fees are non-refundable.
In order to receive the required firearms qualifications for this State, please contact your local participating law enforcement agency, the Maryland Department of State Police or the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission to make arrangements to complete the firearm and training qualifications. There may be a charge for this service. You can reach the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission at 410-552-6300.
You must receive the firearms qualification through a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission certified firearms instructor. Any qualifications received that are NOT certified by a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission certified instructor, will not be accepted.
Once you have satisfied the firearm and training qualification requirements and submitted the required paperwork to the Licensing Division, Handgun Permit Unit at 1111 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Maryland 21208, you will receive your certification, via U.S. mail, within a reasonable time. The certification card will indicate your information, the firearm type, along with the expiration date and the notation LEOSA in the remarks section.
PERIODS OF CERTIFICATION
One year from the date the applicant met the active duty standards for qualification in firearms training for the same type as the concealed firearm to be carried, as established by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO BE RE-QUALIFIED BY THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THE CERTIFICATION CARD. You will be required to annually meet the established firearms and training standards by the expiration date of the previous firearm qualification in order to maintain your certification.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
It is the Certification holder’s responsibility to ensure the Licensing Division is notified of address or name changes in writing.
There is no fee to change information maintained by the Licensing Division. E-Mail notifications are not accepted, and you may not receive a confirmation receipt for changes of information.
RENEWALS
Those applicants who have separated from the Maryland Department of State Police and are seeking to renew their State of Maryland Qualified Separated Law Enforcement Officer Certification to Carry a Concealed Handgun issued by the Licensing Division, must have already established an account utilizing the online registration.
Once online access has been established, the renewal processing is completed entirely by way of U.S. Mail. The following items must be mailed to the above address for the renewal to be processed:
1. Updated/Recent firearm qualification form, with qualification scores indicating the applicant has qualified with a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission certified instructor;
2. Copy of the retirees Department issued photographic identification card (front and back);
3. Copy of driver’s license (front and back) from any state;
4. A notarized Authorization of Release of Information; and
5. An $8.00 check or money order payable to the Maryland State Police.
Form 29-40c- Certification of Prior Law Enforcement Employment (MDSP Troopers) does not need to be submitted for renewal processing.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Department of State Police reserves the right to deny the issuance of the certification card when your status as an eligible separated member of the Maryland Department of State Police cannot be established. It is your responsibility to provide required material and documentation to support your request. The Maryland State Police will not conduct research on your behalf to prove your eligibility.
Due to the amount of fraud, misunderstanding and false information supplied by applicants requesting a State of Maryland Qualified Separated Law Enforcement Officer Application for Certification to Carry a Concealed Firearm, a thorough inspection of documents supplied is conducted when each application is received. There is no single standard used by law enforcement agencies when issuing identification cards and many agencies have not kept employment records. As a result, all employment is verified and periods of law enforcement service calculated.
The Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act (LEOSA), first enacted July 22, 2004 as Pub. L. 108-277, 118 Stat. 865 (204) and subsequently modified and signed into law on October 12, 2010, codified as 18 U.S. Code §926B and §926C, permits the nationwide carrying of concealed handguns by qualified current and retired law enforcement officers. The Act amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Pub. L. 90-618, 82 Stat, 1213) and exempts qualified current and separated law enforcement officers from state and local laws prohibiting the carry of concealed firearms. Federal statute mandates certain conditions and provisions for a separated individual to be eligible for the issuance of a LEOSA certification by a law enforcement agency.
CHECKLIST – FOLLOW ALONG AND YOU WON’T GO WRONG
1. Establish an online account at the link below (new) if an online account has not previously been established for initial applications.
2. Renewal applications, when an online account has previously been established, will be handled entirely by U.S. mail.
3. Authorization for the Release of Information form. NOTARIZED
4. Updated/Recent firearm qualification form, with qualification scores indicating the applicant has qualified with a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission certified instructor;
5. Copy of the retirees Department issued photographic identification card (front and back);
6. Copy of driver’s license (front and back) from any state;
7. Renewals only - An $8.00 check or money order payable to the Maryland State Police from an active account with sufficient funds.
8. Details in response to a yes response on the application. This information must be complete and accurate as a background investigation will be completed. More information is better than too little. Use additional sheets if necessary.
9. Any documentation to respond to issues concerning drug or alcohol abuse and/or addiction from the health care provider as to treatment and prognosis.
10. Any documentation to respond to occurrences by the applicant where he/she was institutionalized (voluntarily/involuntarily) for any psychological evaluation or treatment to include documentation from the health care provider as to treatment and prognosis.
Questions may be directed to the Licensing Division by emailing Licensing@mdsp.org
If you are not a separated member of the Maryland Department of State Police and seek the State of Maryland LEOSA (HB 218) Certification please go to the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services on the web at http://mdle.net/pdf/LEOSAform.pdf