Definitions - 53 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2162

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     § 2162.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
     shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        "Certification."  The assignment of a certification number to
     a police officer after successful completion of a mandatory
     basic training course or receipt of a waiver of basic training
     from the commission and successful completion of mandatory in-
     service training. Certification is for a period of two years.
        "College."  A college which has a campus police department,
     as used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
     No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, certified by
     the Office of Attorney General as a criminal justice agency
     under the definition of "criminal justice agency" in 18 Pa.C.S.
     § 9102 (relating to definitions). The term does not include the
     State System of Higher Education and its member institutions.
        "Commission."  The Municipal Police Officers' Education and
     Training Commission.
        "Commissioner."  The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State
     Police.
        "Police department."  Any of the following:
            (1)  A public agency of a political subdivision having
        general police powers and charged with making arrests in
        connection with the enforcement of the criminal or traffic
        laws. This paragraph includes the sheriff's office in a
        county of the second class.
            (2)  A campus police or university police department, as
        used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
        No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, certified
        by the Office of Attorney General as a criminal justice
        agency under the definition of "criminal justice agency" in
        18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions). This paragraph
        does not include a campus police or university police
        department of the State System of Higher Education and its
        member institutions.
            (3)  A railroad or street railway police department
        formed with officers commissioned under 22 Pa.C.S. Ch. 33
        (relating to railroad and street railway police) or any prior
        statute providing for such commissioning.
            (4)  The Capitol Police.
            (5)  The Harrisburg International Airport Police.
            (6)  An airport authority police department.
        "Police officer."  Any of the following:
            (1)  A full-time or part-time employee assigned to
        criminal or traffic law enforcement duties of any of the
        following:
                (i)  A police department of a county, city, borough,
            town or township.
                (ii)  Any railroad or street railway police.
                (iii)  Any campus or university police department.
                (iv)  The Capitol Police.
                (v)  The Harrisburg International Airport Police.
                (vi)  An airport authority police department.
            (2)  A deputy sheriff of a county of the second class.
            (3)  A security officer of a first class city housing
        authority or a police officer of a second class city housing
        authority.
     The term excludes persons employed to check parking meters or to
     perform only administrative duties and auxiliary and fire
     police.
        "School."  A training school or academy which provides a
     basic police training course within the functional organization
     of a police department or departments or any educational
     facility in this Commonwealth.
        "University."  A university which has a campus police
     department, as used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929
     (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929,
     certified by the Office of Attorney General as a criminal
     justice agency under the definition of "criminal justice agency"
     in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions). The term does
     not include the State System of Higher Education and its member
     institutions.
     (Nov. 24, 1999, P.L.539, No.49, eff. 60 days; Dec. 30, 2003,
     P.L.450, No.65, eff. 60 days)

        2003 Amendment.  Act 65 amended the defs. of "police
     department" and "police officer." See section 4 of Act 65 in the
     appendix to this title for special provisions relating to
     applicability.

Last modified: November 27, 2007