Wash. Rev. Code » Title 10 · Chapter 10.93
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Agency with primary territorial jurisdiction" means a city or town police agency which has responsibility for police activity within its boundaries; or a county police or sheriff's department which has responsibility with regard to police activity in the unincorporated areas within the county boundaries; or a statutorily authorized port district police agency or four-year state college or university police agency which has responsibility for police activity within the statutorily authorized enforcement boundaries of the port district, state college, or university.
(2) "Federal peace officer" means any employee or agent of the United States government who has the authority to carry firearms and make warrantless arrests and whose duties involve the enforcement of criminal laws of the United States.
(3) "General authority Washington law enforcement agency" means any agency, department, or division of a municipal corporation, political subdivision, or other unit of local government of this state, and any agency, department, or division of state government, having as its primary function the detection and apprehension of persons committing infractions or violating the traffic or criminal laws in general, as distinguished from a limited authority Washington law enforcement agency, and any other unit of government expressly designated by statute as a general authority Washington law enforcement agency. The Washington state patrol and the department of fish and wildlife are general authority Washington law enforcement agencies.
(4) "General authority Washington peace officer" means any fully compensated and elected, appointed, or employed officer of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency who is commissioned to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington generally.
(5) "Limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" means any agency, political subdivision, or unit of local government of this state, and any agency, department, or division of state government, having as one of its functions the apprehension or detection of persons committing infractions or violating the traffic or criminal laws relating to limited subject areas, including, but not limited to, the state departments of natural resources and social and health services, the state gambling commission, the state lottery commission, the state parks and recreation commission, the state utilities and transportation commission, the state liquor and cannabis board, the office of the insurance commissioner, the state department of corrections, the office of independent investigations, and the state department of labor and industries.
(6) "Limited authority Washington peace officer" means any fully compensated officer of a limited authority Washington law enforcement agency empowered by that agency to detect or apprehend violators of the laws in some or all of the limited subject areas for which that agency is responsible. A limited authority Washington peace officer may be a specially commissioned Washington peace officer if otherwise qualified for such status under this chapter.
(7) "Mutual law enforcement assistance" includes, but is not limited to, one or more law enforcement agencies aiding or assisting one or more other such agencies through loans or exchanges of personnel or of material resources, for law enforcement purposes.
(8) "Primary commissioning agency" means (a) the employing agency in the case of a general authority Washington peace officer, a limited authority Washington peace officer, a tribal peace officer from a federally recognized tribe, or a federal peace officer, and (b) the commissioning agency in the case of a specially commissioned Washington peace officer (i) who is performing functions within the course and scope of the special commission and (ii) who is not also a general authority Washington peace officer, a limited authority Washington peace officer, a tribal peace officer from a federally recognized tribe, or a federal peace officer.
(9) "Primary function of an agency" means that function to which greater than fifty percent of the agency's resources are allocated.
(10) "Reserve officer" means any person who does not serve as a regularly employed, fully compensated peace officer of this state, but who, when called by an agency into active service, is fully commissioned on the same basis as regularly employed, fully compensated officers to enforce the criminal laws of this state.
(11) "Specially commissioned Washington peace officer," for the purposes of this chapter, means any officer, whether part-time or full-time, compensated or not, commissioned by a general authority Washington law enforcement agency to enforce some or all of the criminal laws of the state of Washington, who does not qualify under this chapter as a general authority Washington peace officer for that commissioning agency, specifically including reserve peace officers, and specially commissioned full-time, fully compensated peace officers duly commissioned by the states of Oregon or Idaho or any such peace officer commissioned by a unit of local government of Oregon or Idaho.
[ 2025 c 28 s 1; 2024 c 319 s 2. Prior: 2021 c 318 s 307; 2006 c 284 s 16; 2002 c 128 s 1; 1994 c 264 s 3; 1988 c 36 s 5; 1985 c 89 s 2.]

Notes:

Finding—Intent—2021 c 318: See note following RCW 43.102.020.
Effective date—2006 c 284: See RCW 48.135.901.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case: State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
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State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 8× “10 RCW 10.93.020(1). 11 RCW 10.93.090. As far as we can tell from the record, no one had asked the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to approve the basic training academy for Oregon State Police.”
Pruczinski v. Ashby, 374 P.3d 102 (Wash. 2016). “020(5), a specially commissioned Washington peace officer need only be a “ ‘full-time, fully compensated peace officer! ] duly commissioned by the state! ] of Oregon’ ” (alterations *508 in original)), with RCW 10.93.020(5) (defining a “specially commissioned Washington peace…”
State v. Williams, 251 P.3d 877 (Wash. 2011). “(2) "Law enforcement officer" means any general authority, limited authority, or specially commissioned Washington peace officer or federal peace officer as those terms are defined in RCW 10.93.020, and other public officers who are responsible for enforcement of fire, building,…”
State v. Williams, 171 Wash. 2d 474 (Wash. 2011). “(2) “Law enforcement officer” means any general authority, limited authority, or specially commissioned Washington peace officer or federal peace officer as those terms are defined in RCW 10.93.020, and other public officers who are responsible for enforcement of fire, building,…”
City of Lynnwood v. $128 Cash, 810 P.2d 1377 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 3× “" RCW 10.93.020 provides in relevant part: [T]he following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.”
Suarez v. Newquist, 855 P.2d 1200 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “Tribal officers are mentioned in the definition section, RCW 10.93.020(8), but not in subsequent sections.”
State v. Barker, 25 P.3d 423 (Wash. 2001). “When she stopped and detained Barker, Wall was a specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(5), since she was a "full-time, fully compensated peace officer[] duly commissioned by the state[] of Oregon.”
State v. Barker, 25 P.3d 423 (Wash. 2001). “When she stopped and detained Barker, Wall was a specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(5), since she was a “full-time, fully compensated peace officer[] duly commissioned by the state[] of Oregon.”
State v. Graham, 927 P.2d 227 (Wash. 1996). “"(2) 'Law enforcement officer’ means any general authority, limited authority, or specially commissioned Washington peace officer or federal peace officer as those terms are defined in RCW 10.93.020, and other public officers who are responsible for enforcement of fire,…”
State v. Graham, 927 P.2d 227 (Wash. 1996). “(2) "Law enforcement officer" means any general authority, limited authority, or specially commissioned Washington peace officer or federal peace officer as those terms are defined in RCW 10.93.020, and other public officers who are responsible for enforcement of fire, building,…”
State v. Hardgrove, 225 P.3d 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 9× “30 RCW, that does not inform on the meaning of the definitions used in RCW 10.93.020. The Legislature has expressed how it wants the chapter interpreted.”
State v. Barron, 160 P.3d 1077 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 10.93.020(5) states that a reserve officer is a "[s]pecially commissioned Washington peace officer" and "does not qualify under this chapter as a general authority Washington peace officer.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(1) — 5 cases
City of Lynnwood v. $128 Cash, 810 P.2d 1377 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “" RCW 10.93.020 provides in relevant part: [T]he following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.”
State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 10.93.020(1). 11 RCW 10.93.090. As far as we can tell from the record, no one had asked the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to approve the basic training academy for Oregon State Police.”
State v. Hardgrove, 225 P.3d 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “30 RCW, that does not inform on the meaning of the definitions used in RCW 10.93.020. The Legislature has expressed how it wants the chapter interpreted.”
State v. Eriksen, 216 P.3d 382 (Wash. 2009).
State Of Washington, V. Karen K. Peterson (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(10) — 1 case
State v. Plaggemeier, 969 P.2d 519 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(2) — 1 case
State v. Hardgrove, 225 P.3d 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “30 RCW, that does not inform on the meaning of the definitions used in RCW 10.93.020. The Legislature has expressed how it wants the chapter interpreted.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(3) — 6 cases
State v. Williams, 152 Wash. App. 937 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 10.93.020(1). 11 RCW 10.93.090. As far as we can tell from the record, no one had asked the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to approve the basic training academy for Oregon State Police.”
State v. Eriksen, 216 P.3d 382 (Wash. 2009).
State v. Williams, 219 P.3d 978 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
State v. Hardgrove, 225 P.3d 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “30 RCW, that does not inform on the meaning of the definitions used in RCW 10.93.020. The Legislature has expressed how it wants the chapter interpreted.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(4) — 2 cases
State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 10.93.020(1). 11 RCW 10.93.090. As far as we can tell from the record, no one had asked the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to approve the basic training academy for Oregon State Police.”
State v. K.L.B. (Wash. 2014).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(5) — 11 cases
Pruczinski v. Ashby, 374 P.3d 102 (Wash. 2016). “020(5), a specially commissioned Washington peace officer need only be a “ ‘full-time, fully compensated peace officer! ] duly commissioned by the state! ] of Oregon’ ” (alterations *508 in original)), with RCW 10.93.020(5) (defining a “specially commissioned Washington peace…”
State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 10.93.020(1). 11 RCW 10.93.090. As far as we can tell from the record, no one had asked the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to approve the basic training academy for Oregon State Police.”
State v. Barker, 25 P.3d 423 (Wash. 2001). “When she stopped and detained Barker, Wall was a specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(5), since she was a "full-time, fully compensated peace officer[] duly commissioned by the state[] of Oregon.”
State v. Barker, 25 P.3d 423 (Wash. 2001). “When she stopped and detained Barker, Wall was a specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(5), since she was a “full-time, fully compensated peace officer[] duly commissioned by the state[] of Oregon.”
State v. Barron, 160 P.3d 1077 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 10.93.020(5) states that a reserve officer is a "[s]pecially commissioned Washington peace officer" and "does not qualify under this chapter as a general authority Washington peace officer.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(6) — 3 cases
State v. Barker, 990 P.2d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 10.93.020(1). 11 RCW 10.93.090. As far as we can tell from the record, no one had asked the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to approve the basic training academy for Oregon State Police.”
Shelton v. Liquor & Cannabis Bd. of the State of Washington (W.D. Wash. 2022).
Lyon v. Thurston Cnty. (W.D. Wash. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(7) — 1 case
Sheimo v. Bengston, 825 P.2d 343 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(8) — 3 cases
Suarez v. Newquist, 855 P.2d 1200 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “Tribal officers are mentioned in the definition section, RCW 10.93.020(8), but not in subsequent sections.”
City of Lynnwood v. $128 Cash, 810 P.2d 1377 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “" RCW 10.93.020 provides in relevant part: [T]he following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.”
Sheimo v. Bengston, 825 P.2d 343 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 10.93.020(9) — 1 case
State v. Hardgrove, 225 P.3d 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “30 RCW, that does not inform on the meaning of the definitions used in RCW 10.93.020. The Legislature has expressed how it wants the chapter interpreted.”
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