According to Florida Statutes, which describes a law enforcement officer?

• A. Any person elected, appointed, or employed full-time by a municipality or state with authority to bear arms and make arrests.
• B. A person who volunteers to enforce local regulations on weekends.
• C. Any person who owns a firearm.
• D. A federal officer stationed in Florida.

Answer: (A)

Florida statutes define a law enforcement officer as someone elected, appointed, or employed full-time by a municipality or the state who has authority to bear arms and to make arrests. The key points are the full-time official capacity and the sworn powers to carry a firearm and arrest others in the course of duties. This sets apart officers from volunteers or private individuals, since a weekend volunteer or a person who merely owns a firearm does not meet the statutory requirements. Federal officers operating in Florida aren’t described by this state-specific definition, though they can be law enforcement in other contexts. In practical terms, city police, county sheriffs, and state police fit this description.