§ 2162. Definitions.

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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:

"Approval." The assignment of an approval number to an instructor or school director who meets the requirements established by the commission.

"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 not more than 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).

"Commission." The Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission.

"Commissioner." The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.

"Instructor." An individual approved by the commission to teach in a basic police training course or an in-service police training course.

"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).

(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.

(7)A county park police force under section 2511(b) of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code.

"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, including the State System of Higher Education and its member institutions.

(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.

(4)A county park police officer.

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.

"School director." An individual who is approved by the commission and responsible for the daily operations of 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).

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(Nov. 24, 1999, P.L.539, No.49, eff. 60 days; Dec. 30, 2003, P.L.450, No.65, eff. 60 days; Mar. 14, 2014, P.L.38, No.18, eff. 90 days; Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1788, No.121, eff. imd.; Oct. 11, 2023, P.L.49, No.10, eff. 60 days)

2023 Amendment. Act 10 amended the def. of "certification" and added the defs. of "approval," "instructor" and "school director."

2022 Amendment. Act 121 amended the defs. of "college," "police department," "police officer" and "university." See section 4 of Act 121 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to law enforcement certification.

2014 Amendment. See section 1 of Act 18 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.

References in Text. The act of August 9, 1955, P.L.323, No.130, known as The County Code, referred to in par.

(7)of the def. of "police department," was repealed by the act of May 8, 2024, P.L.50, No.14. The subject matter is now contained in section 16511 of Title 16 (Counties).

Cross References. Section 2162 is referred to in section 9121 of this title; section 8951 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

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