Law enforcement officer

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A law enforcement officer (LEO), [1] or peace officer in North American English, is a public-sector or private-sector employee whose duties primarily involve the enforcement of laws, protecting life & property, keeping the peace, and other public safety related duties. Law enforcement officers are designated certain powers & authority by law to allow them to carry out their responsibilities.

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Modern legal codes use the term peace officer (or in some jurisdictions, law enforcement officer) to include every person vested by the legislating state with law enforcement authority. Traditionally, anyone "sworn, badged, and armable"[ citation needed ] who can arrest, or refer such arrest for a criminal prosecution. Security officers may enforce certain laws and administrative regulations, which may include detainment or apprehension authority, including arresting in some jurisdictions. Peace officers may also be able to perform all duties that a law enforcement officer is tasked with, but may or may not be armed with a weapon.[ citation needed ] The term peace officer in some jurisdictions is interchangeable with law enforcement officer or police officer, but in others peace officer is a totally separate legal designation with quasi-police powers.

Canada

In Canada, the Criminal Code (R.S., c. C-34, s. 2.) defines a peace officer as:

Peace officer includes

Section (b) allows for designation as a peace officer for a member of the Correctional Service of Canada under the following via the Corrections and Conditional Release Act: [2]

*10. The Commissioner may in writing designate any staff member, either by name or by class, to be a peace officer, and a staff member so designated has all the powers, authority, protection and privileges that a peace officer has by law in respect of

Also, provincial legislatures can designate a class of officers (i.e. Conservation Officers, Park Rangers and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement) to be peace officers.

United States

United States federal law enforcement personnel include but are not limited to the following: [3] [4]

  1. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
  2. Bureau of Diplomatic Security
  3. Customs and Border Protection
  4. Drug Enforcement Administration
  5. Federal Air Marshal Service
  6. Federal Bureau of Investigation
  7. Federal Flight Deck Officers
  8. Federal Reserve Police Department
  9. United States Secret Service
  10. Fish and Wildlife Service - Law Enforcement
  11. Bureau of Land Management - Law Enforcement
  12. Homeland Security Investigations
  13. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  14. National Park Service - Law Enforcement
  15. Federal Bureau of Prisons
  16. Transportation Security Administration
  17. United States Marshal Service
  18. U.S. Coast Guard
  19. United States Postal Inspection Service
  20. United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police

In addition, many departments in the U.S. Federal Government contain Inspector Generals who are able to appoint criminal investigators to work under them.

For an exhaustive list of all federal law enforcement, you can find it on Federal law enforcement in the United States.

Arizona

Arizona Revised Statutes defines a peace officer in Title 13, Section 105, as "any person vested by law with a duty to maintain public order and make arrests and includes a constable." Title 1, Section 215(27) enumerates those who are peace officers in the State of Arizona. It includes:

  1. sheriffs of counties
  2. constables
  3. marshals
  4. SWAT officers and policemen of cities and towns
  5. commissioned personnel of the department of public safety and state troopers
  6. personnel who are employed by the state department of corrections and the department of juvenile corrections and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
  7. peace officers who are appointed by a multi-county water conservation district and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
  8. police officers who are appointed by community college district governing boards and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
  9. police officers who are appointed by the Arizona board of regents and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
  10. police officers who are appointed by the governing body of a public airport according to section 28-8426 and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
  11. peace officers who are appointed by a private post-secondary institution under section 15-1897 and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
  12. special agents from the office of the attorney general, or of a county attorney, and who have received a certificate from the Arizona peace officer standards and training board

Arizona Revised Statutes 41-1823 states that except for duly elected or appointed sheriffs and constables, and probation officers in the course of their duties, no person may exercise the authority or perform the duties of a peace officer unless he is certified by the Arizona peace officers standards and training board.

California

Sections 830 through 831.7 of the California Penal Code [5] list persons who are considered peace officers within the State of California. Peace officers include, in addition to many others,

  1. Police; sheriffs, undersheriffs, and their deputies. (§ 830.1[a])
  2. Investigators of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. (§ 830.3[a])
  3. Inspectors or investigators employed in the office of a district attorney. (§ 830.1[a])
  4. The California Attorney General and special agents and investigators of the California Department of Justice. (§ 830.1[b])
  5. Members of the California Highway Patrol. (§ 830.2[a])
  6. Special agents of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (§ 830.2[d])
  7. Game wardens of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (§ 830.2[e])
  8. California State Park Peace Officers (§ 830.2[f])
  9. Investigators of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. (§ 830.2[h])
  10. Cal Expo Police Officers (§ 830.2[i])(§ 830.3[q])
  11. Investigators of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. (§ 830.3[c])
  12. The State Fire Marshal and assistant or deputy state fire marshals. (§ 830.3[e])
  13. Fraud investigators of the California Department of Insurance. (§ 830.3[i])
  14. Investigators of the Employment Development Department. (§ 830.3[q])
  15. A person designated by a local agency as a Park Ranger (§ 830.31[b]) [6]
  16. Members of the University of California Police Department, California State University Police Department or of a California Community College Police Department. (§ 830.2 [b]&[c]/ 830.32 [a])
  17. Members of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District Police Department. (§ 830.33 [a])
  18. Any railroad police officer commissioned by the Governor. (§ 830.33 [e] [1])
  19. Welfare fraud Investigators of the California Department of Social Services. (§ 830.35[a])
  20. County coroners and deputy coroners. (§ 830.35[c])
  21. Firefighter/Security Officers of the California Military Department. (§ PC 830.37)
  22. Hospital Police Officers with the California Department of State Hospitals (used to be California Department of Mental Health) and the California Department of Developmental Services (§ 830.38)
  23. County Probation Officers, County Deputy Probation Officers, Parole officers and correctional officers of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (§ 830.5 [a]&[b])
  24. A security officer for a private university or college deputized or appointed as a reserve deputy sheriff or police officer. (§ 830.75) [7]

Most peace officers have jurisdiction throughout the state, but many have limited powers outside their political subdivisions. Some peace officers require special permission to carry firearms. Powers are often limited to the performance of peace officers' primary duties (usually, enforcement of specific laws within their political subdivision); however, most have power of arrest anywhere in the state for any public offense [8] that poses an immediate danger to a person or property.

A private person (i.e., ordinary citizen) may arrest another person for an offense committed in the arresting person's presence, or if the other person has committed a felony whether or not in the arresting person's presence (Penal Code § 837), [9] though such an arrest when an offense has not occurred leaves a private person open to criminal prosecution and civil liability for false arrest. A peace officer may:

Persons are required to comply with certain instructions given by a peace officer, and certain acts (e.g., battery) committed against a peace officer carry more severe penalties than the same acts against a private person. It is unlawful to resist, delay, or obstruct a peace officer in the course of the officer's duties (Penal Code § 148[a][1]). [11]

New York State

New York State grants peace officers very specific powers under NYS Criminal Procedure Law, that they may make warrantless arrests, use physical and deadly force, and issue summonses under section 2.20 of that law. [12]

There is a full list of peace officers under Section 2.10 of that law. [12] Below are some examples.

  1. That state has law enforcement agencies contained within existing executive branch departments that employ sworn peace officers to investigate and enforce laws specifically related to the department. Most often, these departments employ sworn Investigators (separate from the New York State Police) that have statewide investigative authority under the department's mission.
  2. The New York State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE) is a state investigative agency housed under the State Department of Health. Narcotic Investigators with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement are sworn peace officers who carry firearms, make arrests, and enforce the New York State Controlled Substances Act, New York State Penal Law, and New York State Public Health Law.
  3. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance employs sworn peace officers as Excise Tax Investigators and Revenue Crimes Investigators. These State Investigators carry firearms, make arrests, and enforce New York State Penal Law related to tax evasion and other crimes. Excise Tax Investigators may execute Search Warrants.
  4. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Division of Field Investigation also employ sworn peace officers as State Investigators. All DMV Investigators carry Glock 23 firearms and enforce New York State Penal Law and New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. The DMV Division of Field Investigation investigates auto theft, odometer tampering, fraudulent documents, and identity theft crimes.[ citation needed ]

Texas

Texas Statutes, [13] Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 2.12, provides:

Art. 2.12, WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. The following are peace officers:

(1) sheriffs, their deputies, and those reserve deputies who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
(2) constables, deputy constables, and those reserve deputy constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
(3) marshals or police officers of an incorporated city, town, or village, and those reserve municipal police officers who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
(4) rangers and officers commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the Director of the Department of Public Safety;
(5) investigators of the district attorneys', criminal district attorneys', and county attorneys' offices;
(6) law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
(7) each member of an arson investigating unit commissioned by a city, a county, or the state;
(8) officers commissioned under Section 37.081, Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;
(9) officers commissioned by the General Services Commission;
(10) law enforcement officers commissioned by the Parks and Wildlife Commission;
(11) airport police officers commissioned by a city with a population of more than 1.18 million that operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(12) airport security personnel commissioned as peace officers by the governing body of any political subdivision of this state, other than a city described by Subdivision (11), that operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(13) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and security officers;
(14) security officers and investigators commissioned as peace officers by the comptroller;
(15) officers commissioned by a water control and improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;
(16) officers commissioned by a board of trustees under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;
(17) investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical Board;
(18) officers commissioned by the board of managers of the Dallas County Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, or the Bexar County Hospital District under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;
(19) county park rangers commissioned under Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;
(20) investigators employed by the Texas Racing Commission;
(21) officers commissioned under Chapter 554, Occupations Code;
(22) officers commissioned by the governing body of a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108, Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority under Section 452.110, Transportation Code;
(23) investigators commissioned by the attorney general under Section 402.009, Government Code;
(24) security officers and investigators commissioned as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code;
(25) an officer employed by the Department of State Health Services under Section 431.2471, Health and Safety Code;
(26) officers appointed by an appellate court under Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;
(27) officers commissioned by the state fire marshal under Chapter 417, Government Code;
(28) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;
(29) apprehension specialists and inspectors general commissioned by the Texas Youth Commission as officers under Sections 61.0451 and 61.0931, Human Resources Code;
(30) officers appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, Government Code;
(31) investigators commissioned by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Section 1701.160, Occupations Code;
(32) commission investigators commissioned by the Texas Private Security Board under Section 1702.061(f), Occupations Code;
(33) the fire marshal and any officers, inspectors, or investigators commissioned by an emergency services district under Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;
(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section; and
(35) investigators commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission as officers under Section 141.055, Human Resources Code.

See also

Related Research Articles

Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated offices, such as in military rank and civilian law enforcement.

A citizen's arrest is an arrest made by a private citizen – that is, a person who is not acting as a sworn law-enforcement official. In common law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval England and the English common law, in which sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire marshal</span> Person who inspects buildings for fire safety

A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a state, provincial or territorial government, but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement or investigating fires for origin and cause. Fire marshals may be sworn law enforcement officers and are often experienced firefighters. In larger cities with substantially developed fire departments the local fire departments are sometimes delegated some of the duties of the fire marshal.

Railroad police or railway police are people responsible for the protection of railroad properties, facilities, revenue, equipment, and personnel, as well as carried passengers and cargo. Railroad police may also patrol public rail transit systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Security police</span> Law enforcement agencies responsible for protecting specific properties

Security police usually describes a law enforcement agency which focuses primarily on providing security and law enforcement services to particular areas or specific properties. They may be employed by governmental, public, or private institutions. Security police are generally considered distinct from security guards as security police personnel typically hold some level of law enforcement authority. The exact powers held by security police vary widely between jurisdictions. Examples of these types of agencies include the U.S. FBI Police, the Indian Central Industrial Security Force, and the British Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

Special police usually describes a police force or unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or from other police in the same force, although there is no consistent international definition. A special constable, in most cases, is not a member of a special police force (SPF); in countries in the Commonwealth of Nations and often elsewhere, a special constable is a voluntary or part-time member of a national or local police force or a person involved in law enforcement who is not a police officer but has some of the powers of a police officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Police</span> Former law enforcement agency in California, USA.

The California State Police (CSP) was a state level security police agency founded on March 15, 1887 which primarily served to protect the State Capitol Building, the Governor and other state officials, and other state agencies that did not have their own police force. The CSP also provided services to many different California state agencies, including performing tax seizures for the California Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization, as well as patrolling the California Aqueduct. They provided investigative services to elected officials through their Threat Assessment Detail and criminal investigations of crimes committed against the state through the Bureau of Investigative Services. Detectives and line officers routinely conducted investigations with other state agencies and allied law enforcement departments. The California State Police merged with the California Highway Patrol in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation</span> Law enforcement agency in California, USA

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is the penal law enforcement agency of the government of California responsible for the operation of the California state prison and parole systems. Its headquarters are in Sacramento.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania State Constables</span> State peace officers

The office of Pennsylvania State Constable is held as a municipally elected, sworn Peace Officer throughout the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Resisting arrest, or simply resisting, is an illegal act of a suspected criminal either fleeing, threatening, assaulting, or providing a fake ID to a police officer during arrest. In most cases, the person responsible for resisting arrest is criminally charged or taken to court. In fewer, they are killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop and identify statutes</span> US state laws allowing police to require identification of those suspected of a crime

"Stop and identify" statutes are laws in several U.S. states that authorize police to lawfully order people whom they reasonably suspect of committing a crime to state their name. If there is not reasonable suspicion that a person has committed a crime, is committing a crime, or is about to commit a crime, the person is not required to identify himself or herself, even in these states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</span>

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is a government agency of the state of California that regulates the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act</span> Federal law

The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) is a United States federal law, enacted in 2004, that allows two classes of persons—the "qualified law enforcement officer" and the "qualified retired or separated law enforcement officer"—to carry a concealed firearm in any jurisdiction in the United States, regardless of state or local laws, with certain exceptions.

In the U.S. state of Texas, a constable is an elected law enforcement officer for a precinct of a county. Counties may have between one and eight precincts each depending on their population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheriffs in the United States</span> Chief of county law enforcement

In the United States, a sheriff is the chief of law enforcement of a county. Sheriffs are usually either elected by the populace or appointed by an elected body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Security guard</span> Person employed to protect properties or people

A security guard is a person employed by a government or private party to protect the employing party's assets from a variety of hazards by enforcing preventative measures. Security guards do this by maintaining a high-visibility presence to deter illegal and inappropriate actions, looking for signs of crime or other hazards, taking action to minimize damage, and reporting any incidents to their clients and emergency services, as appropriate.

Law enforcement in New York State is primarily conducted by Police Officers employed by State, City, County Police departments. A number of State, City, Educational, and private companies employ Peace Officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special constable</span> Auxiliary or specialized law enforcement officer

A special constable or special police constable can refer to an auxiliary or part-time law enforcement officer or a person who is granted certain (special) police powers.

Refusing to assist a police officer, peace officer or other law enforcement officer is an offence in various jurisdictions around the world. Some jurisdictions use the terminology '"refusing to aid a police officer" or "failure to aid a police officer".

In the United States, there is no consistent use of the office of constable throughout the states; use may vary within a state. A constable may be an official responsible for service of process: such as summonses and subpoenas for people to appear in court in criminal and/or civil matters. They can also be fully empowered law enforcement officers. Constables may have additional specialized duties unique to the office. In some states the constable is an elected or appointed position at the state or local level of local government. Their jurisdiction can vary from statewide to county/parish and local township boundaries based on the state's laws.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Law Enforcement Officers Flying Armed". Transportation Security Administration. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Corrections and Conditional Release Act (S.C. 1992, c. 20)". Department of Justice Canada. 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  3. ↑ "Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. December 17, 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  4. ↑ "Survey of Federal Civilian Law Enforcement Functions and Authorities" (PDF). U.S. Government Accountability Office. December 2006. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  5. ↑ "California Penal Code, Part 2, Title 3, Section 830-832.18". Official California Legislative Information. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  6. ↑ "California Penal Code, Part 2, Title 3, Chapter 4.5, § 830.31(b). Peace Officers: Local Park Ranger".
  7. ↑ "California Penal Code, Part 2, Title 3, Chapter 4.5, § 830.75. Peace Officers: independent institutions of higher education".
  8. ↑ Public offenses in California include infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.
  9. ↑ California Penal Code, Part 2, Title 3, Chapter 5, Arrest and by Whom Made, § 837.
  10. ↑ California Penal Code, Part 2, Title 3, Chapter 5, Arrest and by Whom Made, § 836.
  11. ↑ California Penal Code, Part 1, Title 7, Chapter 7, Other Offenses Against Public Justice, §148.
  12. 1 2 "Section 2.20 Powers of peace officers". New York State Assembly. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  13. ↑ "Art. 2.12. Who Are Peace Officers". Texas Constitution and Statutes. Retrieved 2012-02-07.


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