Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 737.11 (2026)

General duties of police and fire departments

✓ laws through the 2026 session (checked Sept. 2026)
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The police force of a municipal corporation shall preserve the peace, protect persons and property, and obey and enforce all ordinances of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, all criminal laws of the state and the United States, all court orders issued and consent agreements approved pursuant to sections 2919.26 and 3113.31 of the Revised Code, all protection orders issued pursuant to section 2903.213 or 2903.214 of the Revised Code, and protection orders issued by courts of another state, as defined in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code. The fire department shall protect the lives and property of the people in case of fire. Both the police and fire departments shall perform any other duties that are provided by ordinance. The police and fire departments in every city shall be maintained under the civil service system.

A chief or officer of a police force of a municipal corporation may participate, as the director of an organized crime task force established under section 177.02 of the Revised Code or as a member of the investigatory staff of such a task force, in an investigation of organized criminal activity in any county or counties in this state under sections 177.01 to 177.03 of the Revised Code.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 35 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1956–2026 · leading case: Cuyahoga Metro. Hous. Auth. v. Fraternal Order of Police Ohio Labor Council, Inc., 2018-Ohio-1079, 108 N.E.3d 1220.
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Cuyahoga Metro. Hous. Auth. v. Fraternal Order of Police Ohio Labor Council, Inc., 2018-Ohio-1079, 108 N.E.3d 1220. · cites it 10× “In Rist, the court’s holding is rooted in its finding that, aside from the officer committing a criminal act of falsification, the officer also violated R.C. 737.11, which expressly provides that “the police force shall * ** obey and enforce * * * all criminal laws of the state…”
Com. & Indus. Ins. v. City of Toledo, 543 N.E.2d 1188 (Ohio 1989). · cites it 4× “R.C. 737.11. The Ohio Administrative Code and the Toledo Municipal Code place *98 the fire chief or his authorized representative in charge at the scene of a fire.”
State v. Mole (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-5124, 74 N.E.3d 368. · cites it 2× “When peace officers violate the high standards imposed on them by their professions, they are subject to discipline, including discharge.”
United States v. Donald P. Rohrig, 98 F.3d 1506 (6th Cir. 1996). “” Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 737.11 . In addition, Canton’s enactment of an ordinance prohibiting use of “any noise-making device” in such a manner that “the peace or good order of the neighborhood is disturbed,” Canton, Ohio, General Code § 509.”
Burgess v. Doe, 686 N.E.2d 1141 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1996). · cites it 3× “More specifically, appellant argues (1) that appellee was negligent by breaching its duty to protect her under R.C. 737.11; (2) that, as a result, appellee is liable under R.”
Boston Hts. v. Brewer, 2017-Ohio-7042. · cites it 3× “ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR SIX THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS CONCLUSIONS THAT THE VILLAGE’S OFFICER ON THE STREET WAS PERFORMING LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES IDENTIFIED IN R.C. 737.11, AND EVIDENCE SHOWED HE DID NOT OBEY ALL FEDERAL AND STATE CRIMINAL LAWS AS THE STATUTE REQUIRES; NOR DID HE…”
N. Royalton v. Urich, 2013-Ohio-2206. · cites it 4× “Specifically, the City contends that the reinstatement of Urich to his employment contravenes R.C. 737.11 and violates Ohio’s public policy against reinstatement of an officer who falsifies a police report.”
State v. Russell, 713 N.E.2d 56 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1998). “2d 820, 821 ; R.C. 737.11. An additional component of the reasonableness analysis is the question whether the test is subjective or objective, ie.”
State Auto. Mut. Ins. v. Titanium Metals Corp., 823 N.E.2d 934 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2004). · cites it 2× “” Ohio Briquetting argued that R.C. 737.11 expressly imposes civil liability on the village by stating, “The fire department shall protect the lives and property of the people in case of fire.”
State v. Hudson, 2019-Ohio-3497. “Under R.C. 737.11, police are tasked with enforcing all criminal laws.”
City of Warrensville Heights v. Jennings, 569 N.E.2d 489 (Ohio 1991). “44(A)(2) (A law enforcement officer is subject to criminal liability if he negligently “[f]ail[s] to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend an offender, when it is in his power to do so alone or with available assistance.”
State v. Ogle, 2013-Ohio-3420. “We find from the testimony presented at trial any rational trier of fact could have 7 R.C. 737.11 provides, generally, the duties of police and fire departments, are to preserve the peace, protect persons and property, and obey and enforce all ordinances of the legislative…”
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