Peace Officer Around the United States

Peace Officer States
Appear in Blue

The state penal code uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

Other States
Appear in Gray

The State penal code does not refer to Peace Officer

Peace Officer

Usually means a law enforcement role which includes a badge, has the power to arrest, and also carries a service weapon.

Survey of US Penal Codes

According to research of the 50 states’ and District of Columbia penal codes, 71% of states use only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers. and nearly 80% of states use the term in some law enforcement context.

Around the U.S. the term “Peace Officer” is primarily used to refer to police in state penal codes.

Alabama
The state penal code of Alabama uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Alaska
The state penal code of Alaska uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Arizona
The state penal code of Arizona refers to Peace Officer as being in the capacity of law
enforcement with certain arrest restrictions.

Arkansas
The state penal code of Arkansas only refers to the term Peace Officer when referencing the
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure; not in their own code.

California
The state penal code of California uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Colorado
The state penal code of Colorado uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Connecticut
The state penal code of Connecticut uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Delaware
The state penal code of Delaware refers to Peace Officer as any public officer authorized by law
to make arrests in a criminal case

District of Columbia
The state penal code of the District of Columbia does not refer to Peace Officer.

Florida
The state penal code of Florida uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Georgia
The state penal code of Georgia uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Hawaii
The state penal code of Hawaii uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Idaho
The state penal code of Idaho uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

Illinois
The state penal code of Illinois uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Indiana
The state penal code of Indiana does not refer to Peace Officer.

Iowa
The state penal code of Iowa uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

Kansas
The state penal code of Kansas uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to POST its police training codes.

Kentucky
The state penal code of Kentucky refers to Peace Officer as being in the capacity of law
enforcement with certain arrest restrictions.

Louisiana
The state penal code of Louisiana uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Maine
The state penal code of Maine does not refer to Peace Officer.

Maryland
The state penal code of Maryland does not refer to Peace Officer.

Massachusetts
The state penal code of Massachusetts does not refer to Peace Officer.

Michigan
The state penal code of Michigan uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Minnesota
The state penal code of Minnesota uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Mississippi
The state penal code of Mississippi only uses the term Peace Officer when referring to National
Guard serving as peace officers when ordered to state emergency duty under authority vested in the Governor by the Constitution and laws of the state.

Missouri
The state penal code of Missouri uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Montana
The state penal code of Montana uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Nebraska
The state penal code of Nebraska uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Nevada
The state penal code of Nevada uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

New Hampshire
The state penal code of New Hampshire uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

New Jersey
The state penal code of New Jersey does not refer to Peace Officer.

New Mexico
The state penal code of New Mexico uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

New York
The state penal code of New York uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

North Carolina
The state penal code of North Carolina does not refer to Peace Officer.

North Dakota
The state penal code of North Dakota uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Ohio
The state penal code of Ohio uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

Oklahoma
The state penal code of Oklahoma uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Oregon
The state penal code of Oregon uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Pennsylvania
The state penal code of Pennsylvania uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Rhode Island
The state penal code of Rhode Island uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

South Carolina
The state penal code of South Carolina does not refer to Peace Officer.

South Dakota
The state penal code of South Dakota uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Tennessee
The state penal code of Tennessee uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to to POST its police training codes.

Texas
The state penal code of Texas uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

Utah
The state penal code of Utah uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police officers.

Vermont
The state penal code of Vermont uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Virginia
The state penal code of Virginia does not refer to Peace Officer.

Washington
The state penal code of Washington uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

West Virginia
The state penal code of West Virginia does not refer to Peace Officer.

Wisconsin
The state penal code of Wisconsin uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

Wyoming
The state penal code of Wyoming uses only the term Peace Officer when referring to police
officers.

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