(1) The Commissioner shall have the power to employ persons to serve as peace officers. All persons employed as peace officers by the department shall meet the qualifications set forth in KRS § 15.380 to KRS § 15.404 concerning officer certification and training.
(2) Officers employed by the department shall have full powers as peace officers and shall be limited to the enforcement of Department of Agriculture statutes and administrative regulations, except when it is necessary to enforce KRS Chapter 514 related to theft cases involving animals, KRS Chapter 516 related to forgery of animal health certificates, or KRS Chapter 525 related to animal cruelty, mistreatment, or torture.

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 257.490

  • Animal: includes every warm-blooded living creature except a human being. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Agriculture. See Kentucky Statutes 257.010
  • Department: means the Department of Agriculture. See Kentucky Statutes 257.010
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC

(3) The department shall establish and maintain an operational procedures manual outlining specific actions to be taken by officers pursuant to this section.
Effective: June 25, 2009
History: Amended 2009 Ky. Acts ch. 22, sec. 18, effective June 25, 2009. — Amended
2002 Ky. Acts ch. 49, sec. 18, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch.
296, sec. 2, effective June 17, 1978. — Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 244, sec. 2.