peace officer
peace officer. A civil officer (such as a sheriff or police officer) appointed to maintain public tranquility and order; esp., a person designated by public authority to keep the peace and arrest persons guilty or suspected of crime. • This term may also include a judge who hears criminal cases or another public official (such as a mayor) who may be statutorily designated as a peace officer for limited purposes. — Also termed officer of the peace; conservator of the peace. [Cases: Municipal Corporations 180(1).C.J.S. Municipal Corporations §§ 450–452, 474–476, 497, 502, 505, 508, 534.]
