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.

(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.

(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.

"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; Mar. 14, 2014, P.L.38, No.18, eff. 90 days)

2014 Amendment. Act 18 amended the defs. of "police department" and "police officer." See section 1 of Act 18 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.

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