(1) "Peace officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation, or township constable, who is employed by a political subdivision of this state; a member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of section 3735.31 of the Revised Code; a member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of section 306.35 of the Revised Code; a state university law enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code; a veterans' home police officer appointed under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code; a special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code; an officer, agent, or employee of the state or any of its agencies, instrumentalities, or political subdivisions, upon whom, by statute, a duty to conserve the peace or to enforce all or certain laws is imposed and the authority to arrest violators is conferred, within limits of that statutory duty and authority; or a state highway patrol trooper whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property, and to enforce the laws, ordinances, or rules of the state or any of its political subdivisions.
(2) "Private police officer" means any security guard, special police officer, private detective, or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity.
(3) "Federal law enforcement officer" means an employee of the United States who serves in a position the duties of which are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses under the criminal laws of the United States.
(4) "Impersonate" means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons.
(5) "Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation" has the same meaning as in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(C) No person, by impersonating a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, shall arrest or detain any person, search any person, or search the property of any person.
(D) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(E) No person shall commit a felony while impersonating a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(F) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the impersonation of the peace officer, private police officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation was for a lawful purpose.
(G) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the purpose of a violation of division (D) of this section is to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony, a violation of division (D) is a felony of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24
cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995).
Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 11ד” R.C. 2921.51(A)(1) defines “peace officer” to include a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other member of a political subdivision’s organized police department.”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 9דand because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
State v. Doss, 675 N.E.2d 854 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 13ד12), with a violence specification, and impersonating a peace officer (R.C. 2921.51). Defendant asserts twelve assignments of error raising numerous due process and procedural issues.”
State v. Person, 2017 Ohio 2738 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2ד11, one count of impersonating a peace officer or private policeman, in violation of R.C. 2921.51, and one count of having a weapon while under disability, in violation of R.”
State v. Rodriguez, 2023 Ohio 805 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 5ד01(A)(1), with one- and three-year firearm specifications, a repeat-violent-offender specification, and a notice-of-prior conviction specification (Count 3); impersonation of certain officers in violation of R.C. 2921.51(E), with one- and three-year firearm specifications, and a…”
State v. Brooks, 2012 Ohio 3278 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 10ד{¶ 4} Following a trial, Brooks was convicted of Speeding, and of Impersonating a Police Officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.51. On the Speeding conviction, Brooks was fined $75, and his license was suspended for 60 days.”
State v. Brazina, 2017 Ohio 7500 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 4ד” Division (E) states, “No person shall commit a felony while impersonating a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.”
Johnson v. Bradshaw, 493 F. App'x 666 (6th Cir. 2012). “? argues that it was error for the jury instructions to omit the applicable culpable mental state for impersonating a police officer, a violation of Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2921.51(B) (West 2011).”
State v. Osborn, 2017 Ohio 8228 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “16(B); and Count 12 — impersonation of certain officers in violation of R.C. 2921.51(E). All charges contained one- and three-year firearm specifications as well as a forfeiture specification.”
State v. Macko, 2017 Ohio 253 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2ד) R.C. 2921.51(A)(4). {¶33} Further, appellant concedes the state prosecuted him under a theory of complicity.”
Cooper v. City of Dayton, 696 N.E.2d 640 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). “See R.C. 2921.51. Given the record before us, we simply cannot agree that Cooper acted in a private capacity and merely tried to detain the suspects when he displayed his city badge and drew his service revolver.”
State v. Khaliq, 2017 Ohio 7136 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “03, a felony of the third degree; and one count of impersonating a peace officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.51(B), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “and because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
State v. Brazina, 2017 Ohio 7500 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “” Division (E) states, “No person shall commit a felony while impersonating a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(A)(1) — 3 cases
Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” R.C. 2921.51(A)(1) defines “peace officer” to include a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other member of a political subdivision’s organized police department.”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “and because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
State v. Doss, 675 N.E.2d 854 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). “12), with a violence specification, and impersonating a peace officer (R.C. 2921.51). Defendant asserts twelve assignments of error raising numerous due process and procedural issues.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(A)(2) — 2 cases
State v. Doss, 675 N.E.2d 854 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). “12), with a violence specification, and impersonating a peace officer (R.C. 2921.51). Defendant asserts twelve assignments of error raising numerous due process and procedural issues.”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “and because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(A)(3) — 3 cases
Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” R.C. 2921.51(A)(1) defines “peace officer” to include a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other member of a political subdivision’s organized police department.”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “and because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
State v. Macko, 2017 Ohio 253 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “) R.C. 2921.51(A)(4). {¶33} Further, appellant concedes the state prosecuted him under a theory of complicity.”
State v. Brooks, 2012 Ohio 3278 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶ 4} Following a trial, Brooks was convicted of Speeding, and of Impersonating a Police Officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.51. On the Speeding conviction, Brooks was fined $75, and his license was suspended for 60 days.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(B) — 7 cases
Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” R.C. 2921.51(A)(1) defines “peace officer” to include a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other member of a political subdivision’s organized police department.”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “and because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
Johnson v. Bradshaw, 493 F. App'x 666 (6th Cir. 2012). “? argues that it was error for the jury instructions to omit the applicable culpable mental state for impersonating a police officer, a violation of Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2921.51(B) (West 2011).”
State v. Doss, 675 N.E.2d 854 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). “12), with a violence specification, and impersonating a peace officer (R.C. 2921.51). Defendant asserts twelve assignments of error raising numerous due process and procedural issues.”
State v. Khaliq, 2017 Ohio 7136 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “03, a felony of the third degree; and one count of impersonating a peace officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.51(B), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(C) — 2 cases
Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” R.C. 2921.51(A)(1) defines “peace officer” to include a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other member of a political subdivision’s organized police department.”
State v. Brooks, 2012 Ohio 3278 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶ 4} Following a trial, Brooks was convicted of Speeding, and of Impersonating a Police Officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.51. On the Speeding conviction, Brooks was fined $75, and his license was suspended for 60 days.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(D) — 3 cases
State v. Brooks, 2012 Ohio 3278 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶ 4} Following a trial, Brooks was convicted of Speeding, and of Impersonating a Police Officer, in violation of R.C. 2921.51. On the Speeding conviction, Brooks was fined $75, and his license was suspended for 60 days.”
State v. Rodriguez, 2023 Ohio 805 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “01(A)(1), with one- and three-year firearm specifications, a repeat-violent-offender specification, and a notice-of-prior conviction specification (Count 3); impersonation of certain officers in violation of R.C. 2921.51(E), with one- and three-year firearm specifications, and a…”
State v. Person, 2017 Ohio 2738 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “11, one count of impersonating a peace officer or private policeman, in violation of R.C. 2921.51, and one count of having a weapon while under disability, in violation of R.”
State v. Osborn, 2017 Ohio 8228 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “16(B); and Count 12 — impersonation of certain officers in violation of R.C. 2921.51(E). All charges contained one- and three-year firearm specifications as well as a forfeiture specification.”
State v. Macko, 2017 Ohio 253 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “) R.C. 2921.51(A)(4). {¶33} Further, appellant concedes the state prosecuted him under a theory of complicity.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(E)(G) — 1 case
State v. Brazina, 2017 Ohio 7500 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “” Division (E) states, “No person shall commit a felony while impersonating a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(F) — 1 case
Piro v. Franklin Twp., 656 N.E.2d 1035 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “” R.C. 2921.51(A)(1) defines “peace officer” to include a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other member of a political subdivision’s organized police department.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.51(G) — 2 cases
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “and because O.R.C. 2921.51 clothes him with authority to represent himself as such.”
State v. Rodriguez, 2023 Ohio 805 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “01(A)(1), with one- and three-year firearm specifications, a repeat-violent-offender specification, and a notice-of-prior conviction specification (Count 3); impersonation of certain officers in violation of R.C. 2921.51(E), with one- and three-year firearm specifications, and a…”
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