Law Enforcement

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information on whether peace officers can wear their home department's uniform when working outside their primary jurisdiction, so this claim was removed.

Expanding Rules for Peace Officers Working Outside Their Home Area

This bill changes Tennessee laws to require peace officers working outside their main area to notify local police chiefs or sheriffs and wear special uniforms that show they are not regular police.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the current rule that only applies to certain counties (Davidson and Rutherford) and makes it apply statewide.
• Requires peace officers working in other areas to tell the chief law enforcement officer (police chief or sheriff) about their work location and how long they will be there before starting.
• Needs peace officers to wear uniforms with special markings that show they are not regular police when working outside their main area.

Who It Names or Affects

• Peace officers who work in areas other than where they usually work
• Local police chiefs and sheriffs

Terms To Know

chief law enforcement officer

The main person in charge of a local police department or sheriff's office.

primary jurisdiction

The area where a peace officer usually works and is responsible for.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if the chief law enforcement officer does not agree with the arrangements.
• Does not provide details on how to handle situations when there are no local police departments.
• The bill has not yet been signed into law and is still under review by a committee.

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that if a full-time sworn peace officer is working to provide uniformed security, direct traffic, exercise crowd control or perform any other such duty in a jurisdiction other than the officer's primary jurisdictio
n, then the chief law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction in which the peace officer is working must be notified of the location and length of the officer's assignment. For work performed in areas without a police department, the county sheriff is th
e
chief law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction. For work performed within an area that maintains a police department, the chief law enforcement officer is the police chief. Notice to the chief law enforcement officer must be provided in writing by t
h
e employer of the peace officer within five days before the date of service, unless other arrangements are made with the chief law enforcement officer.

Present law provides that while a full-time sworn peace officer, who is certified by law, is employed
in a jurisdiction other than the peace officer's primary jurisdiction, the officer's clothing must bear insignia and markings clearly designating that the peace officer is a private duty law enforcement officer.
The peace officer standards and training c
ommission of this state must establish design criteria for the insignia and markings.
The peace officer may also wear the primary jurisdiction's uniform, if the jurisdiction has authorized its officers to do so. The jurisdiction may establish reasonable
regulations for the wearing of its uniforms during the employment.

Under present law, the above provisions only apply to sworn peace officers engaged in employment outside their primary jurisdiction and within Davidson or Rutherford County. This bill d
eletes this limitation provision and, instead, applies the above provisions to all jurisdictions in this state.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 89
By Hakeem

SENATE BILL 234
By Akbari

SB0234
000739
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62,
Chapter 35, relative to peace officers providing
security outside of primary jurisdiction.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-35-141, is amended by deleting
subsection (c).
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.