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Definition: Law Enforcement Officer
Definition: Law Enforcement Officer
Under the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Act, an officer will be honored on the Memorial if he or she died in the line of duty and would be within the definition of the term “law enforcement officer” as used in the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act, 1965 Public Act 203. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act identifies the following individuals as a “law enforcement officer” under that Act:
- An individual authorized by law, including common law, to prevent and detect crime and enforce the general criminal laws of this state. This subdivision does not include an individual employed solely because he or she occupies any other office or position.
- An individual employed as a Michigan tribal law enforcement officer by a federally recognized Indian tribe that has trust lands located within this state, subject to a written instrument authorizing the individual to enforce the laws of this state.
- The sergeant at arms or any assistant sergeant at arms of either house of the legislature who is commissioned as a police officer by that respective house of the legislature as provided by the legislative sergeant at arms police powers act, 2001 PA 185, MCL 4.381 to 4.382.
- A law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency created by a public body under section 3 of the public body law enforcement agency act, 2004 PA 378, MCL 28.583.
- A county prosecuting attorney’s investigator sworn and fully empowered by the sheriff of that county as provided under article VII of the state constitution of 1963 and section 70 of 1846 RS 14, MCL 51.70.
- A fire arson investigator from a fire department within a village, city, township, or county who is sworn and fully empowered by the chief of police of that village, city, township, or county.
- Officers and investigators appointed by state departments represented on the Michigan highway reciprocity board as provided under section 15 of 1960 PA 124, MCL 3.175.
- A superintendent, watchperson, or guard appointed or chosen as provided under sections 1 and 3 of 1905 PA 80, MCL 19.141and 19.143.
- A commissioner or officer of the department of state police as described under section 6 of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6.
- A conservation officer appointed by the department of state police as provided under section 6a of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6a.
- A general law township constable elected or appointed to perform both statutory criminal and civil duties as provided under section 82 of 1846 RS 16, MCL 41.82.
- An officer appointed to a general law township police department as provided under section 6 of 1951 PA 33, MCL 41.806.
- A marshal, policeman, watchman, or officer appointed to a charter township police force as provided under section 12 of the charter township act, 1947 PA 359, MCL 42.12.
- A park ranger appointed by a county or regional parks and recreation commission as provided under section 14 of 1965 PA 261, MCL 46.364.
- A sheriff elected as provided under section 4 of article VII of the state constitution of 1963 or appointed as provided under section 11 of article V of the state constitution of 1963.
- An undersheriff or deputy sheriff appointed as provided under section 70 of 1846 RS 14, MCL 51.70.
- A police officer appointed by a general law village as provided under section 13 of the general law village act, 1895 PA 3, MCL 70.13.
- A police officer of a home rule village with the authority described in sections 22 and 22b of the home rule village act, 1909 PA 278, MCL 78.22 and 78.22b.
- A marshal serving as chief of police of a fourth class city as provided under section 16 of chapter VII of the fourth class city act, 1895 PA 215, MCL 87.16.
- A constable of a fourth class city as authorized under section 24 of chapter VII of the fourth class city act, 1895 PA 215, MCL 87.24.
- A police chief, policeman, or night watchman appointed under section 1 of chapter XII of the fourth class city act, 1895 PA 215, MCL 92.1.
- A police officer or constable as authorized under sections 3 and 32 to 34a of the home rule city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.3and 117.32 to 117.34a.
- An airport law enforcement officer, guard, or police officer appointed by a public airport authority as provided under section 116 of the aeronautics code of the state of Michigan, 1945 PA 327, MCL 259.116.
- A conservation officer appointed by the director of the department of natural resources as provided under section 1 of 1986 PA 109, MCL 300.21, and as authorized under sections 1501, 1601, and 1606(1) of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.1501, 324.1601, and 324.1606.
- A public safety officer granted law enforcement officer authority and employed by a department of public safety established under section 1606b of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1606b.
- A public safety officer authorized by a community college as provided under section 128 of the community college act of 1966, 1966 PA 331, MCL 389.128.
- A public safety officer of a public safety office established by the board of control of Saginaw Valley State University as provided under section 5a of 1965 PA 278, MCL 390.715a.
- A public safety officer of a higher education institution authorized under section 1 of 1990 PA 120, MCL 390.1511.
- An investigator appointed by the attorney general as provided under section 10 of the Medicaid false claim act, 1977 PA 72, MCL 400.610.
- An investigator appointed by the attorney general under section 35 of 1846 RS 12, MCL 14.35, as described in the opinion of the attorney general, OAG, 1977 No. 5236 (October 20, 1977).
- An investigator appointed by the attorney general as provided under section 8 of the health care false claim act, 1984 PA 323, MCL 752.1008.
- A railroad police officer appointed, commissioned, and acting as provided under section 367 of the railroad code of 1993, 1993 PA 354, MCL 462.367.
- An inspector appointed under section 13 of the motor carrier act, 1933 PA 254, MCL 479.13.
- A law enforcement officer licensed under this act whose duties are performed in conjunction with a joinder of 2 or more municipal corporations under 1951 PA 35, MCL 124.1 to 124.13.
- A law enforcement officer licensed under this act whose duties are performed in conjunction with an interlocal agreement entered into under the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512.
- A law enforcement officer licensed under this act whose duties are performed in conjunction with a transfer of functions or responsibilities under 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 8, MCL 124.531 to 124.536.
- A law enforcement officer licensed under this act whose duties have been transferred to an authority and who is given a comparable position of employment with that authority as provided under 1988 PA 57, MCL 124.601 to 124.614.
- A private college security officer appointed under section 37 of the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1087, who is licensed under section 9d.
Please note that the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act does not identify the following individuals as a “law enforcement officer” under that Act:
- An individual authorized to issue citations as a volunteer as provided under section 675d of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.675d.
- A security employee authorized by the director of the department of state police as provided under section 6c of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6c.
- A motor carrier enforcement officer appointed under section 6d of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6d, as qualified under section 5 of 1956 PA 62, MCL 257.955, or as authorized under section 73 of 1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1873.
- The director of the department of agriculture or his or her representative granted peace officer authority as provided in section 9h of the motor fuels quality act, 1984 PA 44, MCL 290.649h.
- An agent employed and authorized under section 27 of the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1077.
- An attendance officer granted the powers of a deputy sheriff as provided in section 1571 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1571.
- A park and recreation officer commissioned under section 1606(2) of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.1606.
- A volunteer conservation officer appointed by the department of natural resources under section 1607 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.1607.
- A state forest officer commissioned under section 83107 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.83107.
- A special deputy appointed under section 70 of 1846 RS 14, MCL 51.70.
- A limited enforcement officer appointed to conduct salvage vehicle inspections under section 217c of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.217c, who is not otherwise employed as a law enforcement officer.
- A private security guard or private security police officer licensed under the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1051 to 338.1092, or a private college security officer authorized under section 37 of the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1087, who is not licensed under section 9d.
- The attorney general.
- The secretary of state.
- A member of a sheriff’s posse.
- A reserve officer.
- An officer or investigator of the department of state designated under section 213 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.213.
- An authorized agent of the state transportation department or a county road commission performing duties described under section 724 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.724.
- An enforcement officer of the aeronautics commission authorized under section 55 of the aeronautics code of the state of Michigan, 1945 PA 327, MCL 259.55.
- A railroad conductor acting under section 3 of 1913 PA 68, MCL 436.203.
- An inspector authorized to enforce the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303, and rules promulgated by the liquor control commission, under section 201 of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1201.
- An individual not licensed under this act whose law enforcement duties are performed in conjunction with a joinder of 2 or more municipal corporations under 1951 PA 35, MCL 124.1 to 124.13.
- An individual not licensed under this act whose law enforcement duties are performed in conjunction with an interlocal agreement entered into under the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512.
- An individual not licensed under this act whose law enforcement duties are performed in conjunction with a transfer of functions or responsibilities under 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 8, MCL 124.531 to 124.536.
- An individual not licensed under this act whose law enforcement duties have been transferred to an authority and who is given a comparable position of employment with that authority as provided under 1988 PA 57, MCL 124.601 to 124.614.
- A marshal appointed under section 11 of 1889 PA 39, MCL 455.61, or section 15 of 1929 PA 137, MCL 455.215.