Pa. Cons. Stat. » 53 Pa. Cons. Stat. (MUNICIPALITIES) / Chapter 21
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

53 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2162 (2026)

 Definitions.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 2162.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Approval."  The assignment of an approval number to an instructor or school director who meets the requirements established by the commission.

"Certification."  The assignment of a certification number to a police officer after successful completion of a mandatory basic training course or receipt of a waiver of basic training from the commission and successful completion of mandatory in-service training. Certification is for a period of not more than two years.

"College."  A college which has a campus police department, as used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, certified by the Office of Attorney General as a criminal justice agency under the definition of "criminal justice agency" in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions).

"Commission."  The Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission.

"Commissioner."  The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.

"Instructor."  An individual approved by the commission to teach in a basic police training course or an in-service police training course.

"Police department."  Any of the following:

(1)  A public agency of a political subdivision having general police powers and charged with making arrests in connection with the enforcement of the criminal or traffic laws. This paragraph includes the sheriff's office in a county of the second class.

(2)  A campus police or university police department, as used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, certified by the Office of Attorney General as a criminal justice agency under the definition of "criminal justice agency" in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions).

(3)  A railroad or street railway police department formed with officers commissioned under 22 Pa.C.S. Ch. 33 (relating to railroad and street railway police) or any prior statute providing for such commissioning.

(4)  The Capitol Police.

(5)  The Harrisburg International Airport Police.

(6)  An airport authority police department.

(7)  A county park police force under section 2511(b) of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code.

"Police officer."  Any of the following:

(1)  A full-time or part-time employee assigned to criminal or traffic law enforcement duties of any of the following:

(i)  A police department of a county, city, borough, town or township.

(ii)  Any railroad or street railway police.

(iii)  Any campus or university police department, including the State System of Higher Education and its member institutions.

(iv)  The Capitol Police.

(v)  The Harrisburg International Airport Police.

(vi)  An airport authority police department.

(2)  A deputy sheriff of a county of the second class.

(3)  A security officer of a first class city housing authority or a police officer of a second class city housing authority.

(4)  A county park police officer.

The term excludes persons employed to check parking meters or to perform only administrative duties and auxiliary and fire police.

"School."  A training school or academy which provides a basic police training course within the functional organization of a police department or departments or any educational facility in this Commonwealth.

"School director."  An individual who is approved by the commission and responsible for the daily operations of a training school or academy which provides a basic police training course within the functional organization of a police department or departments or any educational facility in this Commonwealth.

"University."  A university which has a campus police department, as used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, certified by the Office of Attorney General as a criminal justice agency under the definition of "criminal justice agency" in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions).

(Nov. 24, 1999, P.L.539, No.49, eff. 60 days; Dec. 30, 2003, P.L.450, No.65, eff. 60 days; Mar. 14, 2014, P.L.38, No.18, eff. 90 days; Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1788, No.121, eff. imd.; Oct. 11, 2023, P.L.49, No.10, eff. 60 days)

 

2023 Amendment.  Act 10 amended the def. of "certification" and added the defs. of "approval," "instructor" and "school director."

2022 Amendment.  Act 121 amended the defs. of "college," "police department," "police officer" and "university." See section 4 of Act 121 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to law enforcement certification.

2014 Amendment.  See section 1 of Act 18 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.

References in Text.  The act of August 9, 1955, P.L.323, No.130, known as The County Code, referred to in par. (7) of the def. of "police department," was repealed by the act of May 8, 2024, P.L.50, No.14. The subject matter is now contained in section 16511 of Title 16 (Counties).

Cross References.  Section 2162 is referred to in section 9121 of this title; section 8951 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2003–2025 · leading case: Allegheny Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Bd., 990 A.2d 86 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010).
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Allegheny Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Bd., 990 A.2d 86 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). · cites it 24× “” 53 Pa.C.S. § 2162. In addition, the MPETL defines “police department” in part as (1) A public agency of a political subdivision having general police powers and charged with making arrests in connection with the enforcement of the criminal or traffic laws.”
Allegheny Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Bd., 41 A.3d 839 (Pa. 2012). · cites it 14× “§ 103; 53 Pa.C.S. § 2162. Concluding that the aforesaid legislative action was not dispositive of the issue, the PLRB hearing examiner here determined that the Deputy Sheriffs were not "police officers" as contemplated by Act 111 because he found that their primary duties were…”
Commonwealth v. Durso, 86 A.3d 865 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013). · cites it 5× “We find that the Commonwealth’s position fails to account for the fact that the legislature has differentiated between state-owned universities and state-related or state-aided universities in sections 646, as well as in an additional related statute, 53 Pa.C.S. § 2162. *869 The…”
Kopko v. Miller, 892 A.2d 766 (Pa. 2006). “Further, the legislature has provided explicitly that police officers include sheriffs only with respect to a county of the second class.”
Commonwealth v. Bennett, 827 A.2d 469 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003). “See 53 Pa.C.S. § 2162 et seq. Although one of his duties was to look for individuals who may be on the Sheriffs outstanding warrant list, another function he was to serve, along with the other uniformed officers, was to investigate whether minors were being served alcoholic…”
Keslosky v. Old Forge Civil Serv. Comm'n, 73 A.3d 665 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). “53 Pa.C.S. § 2162. Thereafter, in order to retain certification, each police officer must complete yearly in-service training.”
Allegheny Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Bd., 68 A.3d 6 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). · cites it 3× “§ 103, and 53 Pa.C.S. § 2162. The Commonwealth Court did not consider such designations sufficient for Act 111 purposes because they lack further explanatory language or the grant of specific powers that the Commonwealth Court concluded was evident in the Second Class County…”
Salters v. Pennsylvania State Police Mun. Police Officers' Educ. & Training Comm'n, 912 A.2d 347 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2006). “53 Pa.C.S. § 2162 (certification). It is unlawful for a municipal police department to hire a non-certified individual as a police officer.”
Barbour v. Mun. Police Officers' Educ. & Training Comm'n, 52 A.3d 392 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “The term “certification” is defined as ”[t]he assignment of a certification number to a police officer after successful completion of a mandatory basic training course .”
Com. v. Wiggs, S., 2025 Pa. Super. 29 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). “53 Pa.C.S. § 2162. Unlike the traditional understanding of a police officer, constables are not employed by police departments, or by any body for that matter, because they operate as independent contractors.”
Com. v. Rinn, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). · cites it 3× “Notably, -5- J-A26029-24 the Crimes Code’s definition of “police officer” does not simply copy the definition provided by 53 Pa.C.S § 2162. Instead, it references the training conducted under the MPETL, which includes training on enforcement of the Vehicle Code.”
Com. v. Pearson, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). · cites it 3× “Notably, -5- J-A26029-24 the Crimes Code’s definition of “police officer” does not simply copy the definition provided by 53 Pa.C.S § 2162. Instead, it references the training conducted under the MPETL, which includes training on enforcement of the Vehicle Code.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— 53 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2162(2) — 2 cases
Com. v. Rinn, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). “Notably, -5- J-A26029-24 the Crimes Code’s definition of “police officer” does not simply copy the definition provided by 53 Pa.C.S § 2162. Instead, it references the training conducted under the MPETL, which includes training on enforcement of the Vehicle Code.”
Com. v. Pearson, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). “Notably, -5- J-A26029-24 the Crimes Code’s definition of “police officer” does not simply copy the definition provided by 53 Pa.C.S § 2162. Instead, it references the training conducted under the MPETL, which includes training on enforcement of the Vehicle Code.”
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