§ 5-7-118 — County security officers - Standards - Police powers

(a) The county mayor or the county mayor's designee is authorized to establish policies pursuant to which a suitable number of persons may be employed and commissioned as county security officers. (b) All security officers employed pursuant to this section must meet the minimum certification requirements of the peace officers standards and training commission. (c) The county mayor or the county mayor's designee is authorized to establish such other minimum qualifications for employment as security officers as deemed appropriate; however, the qualifications for security officers permitted to carry firearms or other arms while on duty shall be at least equivalent to the certification requirements of the peace officers standards and training commission. (d) When properly commissioned and qualified in accordance with the policies of the county mayor or the county mayor's designee, the security officers shall have all the police powers necessary to enforce all state laws and duly enacted county ordinances. The authority hereby granted extends to all facilities or property owned, leased or operated by the county. (e) This section only applies in any county having a population in excess of eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census.

Legislative History

Acts 1996, ch. 716, §2; 2003 , ch. 90, § 2.