GroundRules
← Search the law
Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 15.420: Definitions for KRS 15.410 to 15.510.

Read at publisher ↗
Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 15

As used in KRS 15.410 to 15.510, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Cabinet" means the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet;

(2) (a) "Police officer" means:

1. A local officer, limited to:

a. A full-time:

i. Member of a lawfully organized police depa rtment of

county, urban-county, or city government; or

ii. Sheriff or full -time deputy sheriff, including any sheriff

providing court security or appointed under KRS 70.030;

b. A school resource officer as defined in KRS 158.441; or

c. One (1) of the following who is otherwise eligible for an annual

supplement established in accordance with KRS 15.460, but who

does not receive one:

i. An officer serving on a joint task force;

ii. A detective employed by a county attorney;

iii. A process server for juvenile courts within a consolidated

local government; and

iv. A l ocal alcoholic beverage control investigator appointed

pursuant to KRS Chapter 241; and

2. A state officer, limited to:

a. A public university police officer;

b. A Kentucky state trooper;

c. A Kentucky State Police arson investigator;

d. A Kentucky State Police hazardous device investigator;

e. A Kentucky State Police legislative security specialist;

f. A Kentucky vehicle enforcement officer;

g. A Kentucky Horse Park mounted patrol officer, subject to KRS

15.460(1)(f);

h. A Kentucky state park ranger, subject to KRS 15.460(1)(f);

i. An agriculture investigator;

j. A charitable gaming investigator;

k. An alcoholic beverage control investigator;

l. An insurance fraud investigator;

m. An Attorney General investigator;

n. A Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildli fe Resources game

warden, subject to KRS 15.460(1)(e); and

o. Any detective for a Commonwealth's attorney who would

otherwise be eligible for a supplement established in accordance

with KRS 15.460, but who does not receive one;

who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the

enforcement of the general criminal laws of the state;

(b) "Police officer" does not include any sheriff who earns the maximum

constitutional salary for this office, any special deputy sheriff appointed under

KRS 7 0.045, any constable, deputy constable, district detective, deputy

district detective, special local peace officer, auxiliary police officer, or any

other peace officer not specifically authorized in KRS 15.410 to 15.510;

(3) "Police department" means the employer of a police officer;

(4) "Retirement plan" means a defined benefit plan consisting of required employer

contributions pursuant to KRS 61.565, 61.702, or any other provision of law;

(5) "Unit of government" means any city, county, combination of cities and counties,

public university, state agency, local school district, or county sheriff's office of the

Commonwealth; and

(6) "Validated job task analysis" means the core job description that describes the

minimum entry level requirements, qualifications, and training requirements for

peace officers in the Commonwealth, and that is based upon an actual survey and

study of police officer duties and responsibilities conducted by an entity recognized

by the council as being competent to conduct such a study.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:48:33Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection