§4274.1.  Appointment of forestry officers; duties and powers

A.  To provide for the protection of the assets, property, personnel, and interests relating to forest woodlands, the state forester may appoint and commission forestry officers who shall enforce the laws, rules, and regulations for the protection of interests relating to forest woodlands, may carry weapons concealed or exposed while in the performance of their duties, shall take such action as is authorized by law, rule, or regulation to protect interests relating to forest woodlands, and shall be vested with the same authority and powers conferred by law upon regular law enforcement officers of this state with respect to issuing civil citations for littering and with respect to criminal and other offenses affecting the protection of interests relating to forest woodlands or affecting the performance of their duties.

B.  All forestry officers shall be Peace Officers Standard Training (P.O.S.T.) certified.

C.  Additionally, while on special assignment during any riot, insurrection, or any natural disaster or while in protection of immovable property of the commission and the property, assets, and resources of the office of forestry or the department, any commissioned forestry officer shall possess all the powers and authority of regular law enforcement officers of this state.

D.  Upon the request of any regular law enforcement agency of this state, forestry officers shall prevent and detect crime, apprehend criminals, enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, keep the peace and good order in the state in the enforcement of the state's police powers, and perform any other related duties imposed upon them by the legislature.

Acts 1977, No. 560, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 148, §1; Acts 2009, No. 137, §1, eff. June 28, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 808, §1.