§ 20-26-16-6 — School police officers; oath; powers and duties; jurisdiction

Indiana § 20-26-16-6

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 20: EDUCATION
• Art. 26: SCHOOL CORPORATIONS: GENERAL
• Ch. 16: School Corporation Police Departments

Text

(a) A school corporation, charter school, or
accredited nonpublic school police officer appointed under this
chapter:
(1) is a law enforcement officer (as defined in IC 5-2-1-2(1));
(2) must take an appropriate oath of office in a form and manner
prescribed by the governing body or the equivalent for a charter
school or accredited nonpublic school;
(3) serves at the governing body's (or the equivalent for a charter
school or accredited nonpublic school) pleasure; and
(4) performs the duties that the governing body or the equivalent
for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school assigns.
(b) School corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic
school police officers appointed under this chapter have general police
powers, including the power to arrest, without process, all persons who
within their view commit any offense. They have the same common
law and statutory powers, privileges, and immunities as sheriffs and
constables, except that they are empowered to serve civil process only
to the extent authorized by the employing governing body or the
equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school;
however, any powers may be expressly forbidden them by the
governing body (or the equivalent for a charter school or accredited
nonpublic school) employing them. In addition to any other powers or
duties, such police officers shall enforce and assist the educators and
administrators of their school corporation, charter school, or accredited
nonpublic school in the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the
school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school and
assist and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and officers.
(c) Such police officers may exercise the powers granted under this
section only upon any property owned, leased, or occupied by the
school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school,
including the streets passing through and adjacent to the property.
Additional jurisdiction may be established by agreement with the chief
of police of the municipality or sheriff of the county or the appropriate
law enforcement agency where the property is located, dependent upon
the jurisdiction involved.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.132-2007, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.270-2019, SEC.19; P.L.156-2020, SEC.76; P.L.232-2025, SEC.16.