§ 21-648. Definitions.

A.  “Police officer”, “police” or “peace officer” means any duly appointed person who is charged with the responsibility of maintaining public order, safety, and health by the enforcement of all laws, ordinances or orders of this state or any of its political subdivisions and who is authorized to bear arms in execution of his responsibilities, including reserve force deputies, reserve municipal police officers, and tribal law enforcement officers who are commissioned pursuant to a cross-deputization agreement authorized by Section 1221 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B.  “Police dog” means any dog used by a law enforcement agency of this state, a political subdivision of this state or a tribal law enforcement officer who is commissioned pursuant to a cross-deputization agreement authorized by Section 1221 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which is especially trained for law enforcement work and is subject to the control of a dog handler.

C.  “Police horse” means any horse which is used by a law enforcement agency of this state, a political subdivision of this state or a tribal law enforcement officer who is commissioned pursuant to a cross-deputization agreement authorized by Section 1221 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes for law enforcement work.

D.  “Dog handler” means any police officer or peace officer who has successfully completed training in the handling of a police dog as established by the policy or standard of the law enforcement agency employing said officer.

Added by Laws 1965, c. 221, § 1, emerg. eff. June 16, 1965.  Amended by Laws 1986, c. 54, § 1, eff. July 1, 1986; Laws 1990, c. 75, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 2001, c. 324, § 3, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2004, c. 57, § 1, emerg. eff. April 1, 2004.