(A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of directors of a conservancy district may police the works of the district and, in times of great emergency, may compel assistance in the protection of those works. The board may prevent persons, vehicles, or livestock from passing over the property or works of the district at any places or in any manner that would result in damage to the property or works or in the opinion of the board would endanger the property or works or the safety of persons lawfully on the property or works.

The employees that the board designates for that purpose have all the powers of police officers within and adjacent to the properties owned or controlled by the district. Before entering upon the exercise of those powers, each employee shall take an oath and give a bond to the state, in the amount that the board prescribes, for the proper exercise of those powers. The cost of the bond shall be borne by the district. This division is subject to division (C) of this section.

(C)

(1) The board of directors shall not designate an employee as provided in division (B) of this section on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the employee previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)

(a) The board of directors shall terminate the employment of an employee designated as provided in division (B) of this section if that employee does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the employee agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to that employee under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The board of directors shall suspend from employment an employee designated as provided in division (B) of this section if that employee is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the employee files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the employee does not file a timely appeal, the board shall terminate the employment of that employee. If the employee files an appeal that results in that employee's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that employee, the board shall reinstate that employee. An employee who is reinstated under division (C)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that employee's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the employee of the felony.

(3) Division (C) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of an employee under division (C)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004 .