Peace officer is a North American term for any public sector person charged to uphold the peace. It refers primarily to police officers, constables, 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, that to arrest, or to refer such arrest for a criminal prosecution). Hence city police officers, county sheriff's deputies, and state troopers are usually vested with the same authority within a given jurisdiction.

Jurisdictions may restrict the powers granted to those who are 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.

External links

• Canadian Peace Officers' Memorial Association
• Peace Officers' Memorial Ribbon Society

Peace Officer associations

National associations

• National Asian Peace Officers Association
• National Latino Peace Officers Association

State and provincial associations

• Alabama Peace Officers Associations
• California Peace Officers Association]
• Kansas Police Officers Association
• Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
• Montana Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association

Law enforcement | Legal occupations