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Peace officer

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Peace officer is a North American term for any public sector person charged with upholding the peace. It refers primarily to police officers, constables, correction officers, American sheriffs or marshals and their deputies.

Modern legal codes use the term "peace officer" as an inclusionary term for every public sector person vested by the legislating state with law enforcement authority (traditionally anyone "sworn, badged, and armable" but, basically, who can arrest, or refer such arrest for a criminal prosecution). Hence city police officers, county sheriffs' deputies, and state troopers are usually vested with the same authority within a given jurisdiction.

Jurisdictions may restrict the powers granted to those who have "peace officer status" as opposed to "police status". For example, in New York State all New York State Court Officers as well as Court Clerks assigned to the 1st and 2nd Judicial Departments are classified as Peace Officers. They may execute bench warrants but are not allowed to execute arrest warrants.

Contents

[edit] Canada

Peace officer can denote a person in Canada with the right to make arrests under provincial police acts and the Canadian Criminal Code.

In Ontario and British Columbia, security staff on transit systems (transit police in BC) have these powers as well. Municipal law enforcement officers are also considered peace officers.

[edit] External links

[edit] Peace Officer associations

[edit] National associations

[edit] State and provincial associations

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