1. (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Emergency” means a sudden or unexpected happening or an unforeseen combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action to protect the health, safety, welfare, or property of a person from actual or threatened harm or from an unlawful act.

3. (c) “Police officer” means a person who in an official capacity is authorized by law to make arrests and is:

   1. (1) a member of the Department of State Police;
   2. (2) a member of the Police Department of Baltimore City;
   3. (3) a member of the Baltimore City School Police Force;
   4. (4) a member of the police department, bureau, or force of a county;
   5. (5) a member of the police department, bureau, or force of a municipal corporation;
   6. (6) a member of the Maryland Transit Administration Police Force or Maryland Transportation Authority Police Force;
   7. (7) a member of the University System of Maryland Police Force or Morgan State University Police Force;
   8. (8) a special police officer who is appointed to enforce the law and maintain order on or protect property of the State or any of its units;
   9. (9) a member of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services;
   10. (10) the sheriff of a county whose usual duties include the making of arrests;
   11. (11) a regularly employed deputy sheriff of a county who is compensated by the county and whose usual duties include the making of arrests;
   12. (12) a member of the Natural Resources Police Force of the Department of Natural Resources;
   13. (13) an authorized employee of the Field Enforcement Bureau of the Comptroller's Office;
   14. (14) an authorized member of the Field Enforcement Division of the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission;
   15. (15) a member of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Park Police;
   16. (16) a member of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City Police Force;
   17. (17) a member of the Crofton Police Department;
   18. (18) a member of the WMATA Metro Transit Police, subject to the jurisdictional limitations under Article XVI, § 76 of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact, which is codified at § 10-204 of the Transportation Article;
   19. (19) a member of the Intelligence and Investigative Division of the Department;
   20. (20) a member of the State Forest and Park Service Police Force of the Department of Natural Resources;
   21. (21) a member of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Police Force;
   22. (22) a member of the Ocean Pines Police Department;
   23. (23) a member of the police force of the Baltimore City Community College;
   24. (24) a member of the police force of the Hagerstown Community College;
   25. (25) an employee of the Warrant Apprehension Unit of the Intelligence and Investigative Division in the Department;
   26. (26) a member of the police force of the Anne Arundel Community College; or
   27. (27) a member of the police department of the Johns Hopkins University established in accordance with Title 24, Subtitle 12 of the Education Article.

Added by Acts 2001, c. 10, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 35, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, c. 206, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, c. 730, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001; Acts 2002, c. 388, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2002; Acts 2005, c. 25, § 1, eff. April 12, 2005; Acts 2005, c. 25, § 6, eff. April 12, 2005; Acts 2005, c. 532, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; Acts 2006, c. 417, § 1, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2009, c. 389, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; Acts 2011, c. 366, § 1, eff. June 1, 2011; Acts 2014, c. 148, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2014; Acts 2014, c. 217, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2014; Acts 2015, c. 302, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 25, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2019, c. 25, § 2, eff. July 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 94, § 1, eff. July 1, 2019; Acts 2020, c. 359, § 1, eff. June 1, 2020; Acts 2020, c. 360, § 1, eff. June 1, 2020; Acts 2021, c. 127, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2021.