Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 7-2-101 (2026)

Definitions.

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WY-LEGwyoleg.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(a)    As used in W.S. 7-2-101 through 7-2-107:

          (i) "Deadly weapon" means as defined by W.S.
6-1-104(a)(iv);

            (ii)    "Felony" means as defined by W.S. 6-10-101;

            (iii)    "Misdemeanor" means as defined by W.S.
6-10-101;

            (iv)    "Peace officer" means:

               (A) Any duly authorized sheriff, under sheriff
or deputy sheriff who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701
through 9-1-707;

               (B) Any duly authorized member of a municipal
police force, a college or university campus police force or the
Wyoming highway patrol who has qualified pursuant to W.S.
9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

               (C) Game and fish law enforcement personnel
qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707 and:

                    (I) When enforcing felony statutes
following observation or discovery of the commission of a felony
which was observed or discovered during the performance of their
official duties;

                    (II) While responding to requests to assist
other peace officers performing their official duties or when
enforcing a valid arrest warrant for any crime;

                    (III) When performing their official duties
or enforcing any provision of title 23 and chapter 13 of title
41, any rule and regulation promulgated by the Wyoming game and
fish commission or any other statute for which they are granted
statutory enforcement authority; or

                    (IV) While performing a vehicle
identification number (VIN) inspection on any watercraft trailer
if performed contemporaneously with a hull identification number
(HIN) inspection or motorboat certificate of number inspection
on a watercraft being carried on the trailer.

               (D) Agents of the division of criminal
investigation appointed pursuant to W.S. 9-1-613 who have
qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

               (E) Investigators and brand inspectors of the
Wyoming livestock board who have qualified pursuant to W.S.
9-1-701 through 9-1-707:

                    (I) When enforcing W.S. 6-3-201, 6-3-401,
6-3-402, 6-3-410, 6-3-601 through 6-3-603, 6-3-607, 6-3-610
through 6-3-612, 6-3-1002, 6-3-1003, 6-3-1005, 6-9-202, 35-10-
101, 35-10-102 and 35-10-104, the provisions of title 11 and any
laws prohibiting theft, killing or mutilation of livestock or
any part thereof and any rule or regulation promulgated by the
Wyoming livestock board or any other law for which they are
granted statutory enforcement authority;

                    (II) When responding to a request to assist
another peace officer as defined in this paragraph performing
his official duty; or
                    (III) Enforcing a valid arrest warrant for
a crime specified in subdivision (E)(I) of this paragraph.

               (F) Any duly authorized arson investigator
employed by the state fire marshal who has qualified pursuant to
W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

               (G) Any superintendent, assistant
superintendent, district manager, park ranger or reserve park
ranger of any state park, state recreation area, state
archeological site or state historic site who has qualified
pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707, when acting within the
boundaries of the state park, state recreation area, state
archeological site or state historic site or when enforcing
felony statutes following observation or discovery of the
commission of a felony which was observed or discovered during
the performance of their official duties;

               (H) Any duly authorized detention officer in the
performance of his duties and who has qualified pursuant to W.S.
9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

               (J) Investigators employed by the Wyoming state
board of outfitters and professional guides and qualified
pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707, when enforcing W.S.
23-2-401 and 23-2-406 through 23-2-418 and board rules and
regulations promulgated under W.S. 23-2-410(a)(ii);

               (K) Any peace officer certified by another state
who has been appointed as a special deputy sheriff of a Wyoming
county pursuant to W.S. 18-3-602(c);

               (M) Certified law enforcement officers of an
adjoining state while responding to a request for assistance
from a peace officer in this state pursuant to the "Law
Enforcement Interstate Mutual Aid Act" or other lawful request;

               (N) The director and full-time staff instructors
of the Wyoming law enforcement academy when duly appointed and
acting pursuant to W.S. 9-1-633(b);

               (O) Any duly authorized court security officer
employed by the Wyoming supreme court who is qualified pursuant
to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707 when:
                    (I) Enforcing Wyoming statutes or supreme
court rules on premises where the supreme court is conducting
business;

                    (II) In fresh pursuit of a person whom the
officer has probable cause to believe has committed within the
officer's jurisdiction a violation of a state statute, or for
whom an arrest warrant is outstanding for any criminal offense;
or

                    (III) When responding to a request to
assist other peace officers acting within the scope of their
official duties in their own jurisdiction.

               (P) Any person qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-
701 through 9-1-707 and employed by the Wyoming gaming
commission when engaged in the performance of that person's
duties or when responding to a request to assist other peace
officers acting within the scope of their official duties in
their own jurisdiction.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2022 · leading case: Vigil v. Ruettgers, 887 P.2d 521 (Wyo. 1994).
Vigil v. Ruettgers, 887 P.2d 521 (Wyo. 1994). · cites it 14× “§ 1-39-103 defines peace officer by reference to Wyo.Stat. § 7-2-101 (1987). The Vigils argue that the legislature intended to include Ruettgers, and other training officers at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, in the definition of peace officer.”
Peterson v. Wyoming Game & Fish Comm'n, 989 P.2d 113 (Wyo. 1999). · cites it 15× “The Petersons seek to have Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-2-101 (a)(iv) (Michie Repl.”
Calli Cornella, Phillip Cornella, & Calli & Phillip Cornella as Next Friends of Jpc, Bnc & Spc v. City of Lander, Wyoming, 2022 WY 9 (Wyo. 2022). · cites it 6× “§§ 7-2-101 through -107 (LexisNexis 2021), which generally address peace officers’ statutory authority, 5 the court concluded that neither Officer Cox nor Chief Cecrle were acting within the scope of their duties as peace officers at the times relevant to the Cornellas’ claim.”
Hurst v. State, 698 P.2d 1130 (Wyo. 1985). · cites it 3× “1984: “As used in W.S. 7-2-101 through 7-2-103 ‘peace officer’ means any duly authorized member of a sheriff’s office, municipal police force, college or university campus police force, the Wyoming highway patrol, game and fish law enforcement personnel qualified pursuant to W.”
United States v. Santiago, 846 F. Supp. 1486 (D. Wyo. 1994). · cites it 6× “Nonetheless, Congress determined in the ACA that it would be appropriate to adopt state criminal law as the federal rule of decision for criminal acts that occur on federal property.”
Colyer v. State, Dept. of Transp., 2009 WY 43 (Wyo. 2009). · cites it 6× “officer was a "peace officer" within the meaning of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-2-101 (a)iv), and was, therefore, qualified to detain the appellant under Wyo.”
Olsen v. State, 67 P.3d 536 (Wyo. 2003). “[1 163] Taking another tack, the State also claims that the import of Wyoming's general victim impact statute, § 7-2-101 through 103, is that victim impact testimony is relevant to any sentencing decision and must be considered in a capital case when the sentencing decision is…”
Van Horn v. State, 802 P.2d 883 (Wyo. 1990). · cites it 6× “" Those "officers" authorized to execute arrest warrants are labeled "peace officers" under W.S. 7-2-101(a)(iv). Accordingly, "[a] peace officer may arrest a person when * * * [he] has a warrant commanding that the person be arrested * * *.”
Boyer-gladden v. Hill, 2010 WY 12 (Wyo. 2010). · cites it 2× “§ 1-39-103 (a)(iii) (LexisNexis 2009); Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-2-101 (a)(iv)(H) (LexisNexis 2009).”
Commonwealth v. Leet, 585 A.2d 1033 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). · cites it 2× “24 (West 1988)); Wyoming, (Wyo.Stat.Ann. §§ 7-2-101(a)(iv)(A) and 7-2-103 (1987).”
Mora v. State, 984 P.2d 477 (Wyo. 1999). · cites it 2× “See Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 7-2-101 (a)(iv), 7-2-102(b)(i), 31-5-901(a), 31-5-910, and 31-5-913 (LEXIS 1999).”
W.A.R.M. v. Bonds, 866 P.2d 1291 (Wyo. 1994). · cites it 4× “The act incorporates the definition of “peace officer” found at W.S. 7-2-101 (Cum.Supp.1993), which provides in part: (iv) “Peace officer” means: (A) Any duly authorized sheriff, under sheriff or deputy sheriff who has qualified pursuant to W.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 7-2-101(a)(iv) — 3 cases
Vigil v. Ruettgers, 887 P.2d 521 (Wyo. 1994). “§ 1-39-103 defines peace officer by reference to Wyo.Stat. § 7-2-101 (1987). The Vigils argue that the legislature intended to include Ruettgers, and other training officers at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, in the definition of peace officer.”
United States v. Santiago, 846 F. Supp. 1486 (D. Wyo. 1994). “Nonetheless, Congress determined in the ACA that it would be appropriate to adopt state criminal law as the federal rule of decision for criminal acts that occur on federal property.”
Van Horn v. State, 802 P.2d 883 (Wyo. 1990). “" Those "officers" authorized to execute arrest warrants are labeled "peace officers" under W.S. 7-2-101(a)(iv). Accordingly, "[a] peace officer may arrest a person when * * * [he] has a warrant commanding that the person be arrested * * *.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 7-2-101(a)(iv)(A) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Leet, 585 A.2d 1033 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). “24 (West 1988)); Wyoming, (Wyo.Stat.Ann. §§ 7-2-101(a)(iv)(A) and 7-2-103 (1987).”
— Wyo. Stat. § 7-2-101(a)(iv)(B) — 1 case
Van Horn v. State, 802 P.2d 883 (Wyo. 1990). “" Those "officers" authorized to execute arrest warrants are labeled "peace officers" under W.S. 7-2-101(a)(iv). Accordingly, "[a] peace officer may arrest a person when * * * [he] has a warrant commanding that the person be arrested * * *.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 7-2-101(a)(iv)(C) — 2 cases
Peterson v. Wyoming Game & Fish Comm'n, 989 P.2d 113 (Wyo. 1999). “The Petersons seek to have Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-2-101 (a)(iv) (Michie Repl.”
Nelson v. State, 960 P.2d 1011 (Wyo. 1998).
— Wyo. Stat. § 7-2-101(iv)(G) — 2 cases
Marshall v. State ex rel. Dep't of Transp., 941 P.2d 42 (Wyo. 1997).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.