{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-51.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-51.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-51.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-51.1.html"}],"law_id":72165,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72165,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.1","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; penalty; lesser-included offense","history":"1983, c. 578; 1985, c. 444; 1994, cc. 205, 427; 1997, cc. 8, 120; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2004, cc. 461, 841; 2007, c. 87; 2010, c. 344; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"If any person maliciously causes bodily injury to another by any means including the means set out in \u00a7 18.2-52, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill, and knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a law-enforcement officer, as defined hereinafter, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7 65.2-102, search and rescue personnel as defined hereinafter, or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1 engaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, such person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than five years nor more than 30 years and, subject to subdivision (g) of \u00a7 18.2-10, a fine of not more than $100,000. Upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years.\n\t\tIf any person unlawfully, but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid, causes bodily injury to another by any means, knowing or having reason to know such other person is a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7 65.2-102, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, engaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony, and upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed to affect the right of any person charged with a violation of this section from asserting and presenting evidence in support of any defenses to the charge that may be available under common law.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “law-enforcement officer” means any full-time or part-time employee of a police department or sheriff’s office that is part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime and the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of the Commonwealth; any conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-115; any conservation police officer appointed pursuant to \u00a7 29.1-200; and auxiliary police officers appointed or provided for pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-1731 and 15.2-1733 and auxiliary deputy sheriffs appointed pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “search and rescue personnel” means any employee or member of a search and rescue organization that is authorized by a resolution or ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth or any member of a search and rescue organization operating under a memorandum of understanding with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.\n\t\tThe provisions of \u00a7 18.2-51 shall be deemed to provide a lesser-included offense hereof.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":259982,"text":"If any person maliciously causes bodily injury to another by any means including the means set out in \u00a7 18.2-52, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill, and knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a law-enforcement officer, as defined hereinafter, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7 65.2-102, search and rescue personnel as defined hereinafter, or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1 engaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, such person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than five years nor more than 30 years and, subject to subdivision (g) of \u00a7 18.2-10, a fine of not more than $100,000. Upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years.\n\t\tIf any person unlawfully, but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid, causes bodily injury to another by any means, knowing or having reason to know such other person is a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7 65.2-102, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, engaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony, and upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed to affect the right of any person charged with a violation of this section from asserting and presenting evidence in support of any defenses to the charge that may be available under common law.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “law-enforcement officer” means any full-time or part-time employee of a police department or sheriff’s office that is part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime and the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of the Commonwealth; any conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-115; any conservation police officer appointed pursuant to \u00a7 29.1-200; and auxiliary police officers appointed or provided for pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-1731 and 15.2-1733 and auxiliary deputy sheriffs appointed pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “search and rescue personnel” means any employee or member of a search and rescue organization that is authorized by a resolution or ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth or any member of a search and rescue organization operating under a memorandum of understanding with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.\n\t\tThe provisions of \u00a7 18.2-51 shall be deemed to provide a lesser-included offense hereof.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13717,"edition_id":1,"name":"Assaults and Bodily Woundings","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:39","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:39","permalink":{"id":164963,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13717,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against the Person","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":164763,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13100,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":72243,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51","catch_line":"Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc","url":"\/18.2-51\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51","metadata":false},{"id":72165,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.1","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; penalty; lesser-included offense","url":"\/18.2-51.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.1","metadata":false},{"id":68812,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.2","catch_line":"Aggravated malicious wounding; penalty","url":"\/18.2-51.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.2","metadata":false},{"id":78289,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.3","catch_line":"Prohibition against reckless endangerment of others by throwing objects from places higher than one story; penalty","url":"\/18.2-51.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.3","metadata":false},{"id":54708,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.4","catch_line":"Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated","url":"\/18.2-51.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.4","metadata":false},{"id":71114,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.5","catch_line":"Maiming, etc., of another resulting from operating a watercraft while intoxicated; penalty","url":"\/18.2-51.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.5","metadata":false},{"id":75920,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.6","catch_line":"Strangulation or suffocation of another; penalty","url":"\/18.2-51.6\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.6","metadata":false},{"id":87497,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.7","catch_line":"Female genital mutilation; penalty","url":"\/18.2-51.7\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.7","metadata":false},{"id":60388,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-52","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury by means of any caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire","url":"\/18.2-52\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-52","metadata":false},{"id":65361,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-52.1","catch_line":"Possession of infectious biological substances or radiological agents; penalties","url":"\/18.2-52.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-52.1","metadata":false},{"id":66384,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-52.2","catch_line":"Animal attack resulting from owner's disregard for human life; penalty","url":"\/18.2-52.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-52.2","metadata":false},{"id":63001,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-53","catch_line":"Shooting, etc., in committing or attempting a felony","url":"\/18.2-53\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-53","metadata":false},{"id":76539,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-53.1","catch_line":"Use or display of firearm in committing felony","url":"\/18.2-53.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-53.1","metadata":false},{"id":64209,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-54","catch_line":"Conviction of lesser offenses under certain indictments","url":"\/18.2-54\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-54","metadata":false},{"id":58105,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-54.1","catch_line":"Attempts to poison","url":"\/18.2-54.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-54.1","metadata":false},{"id":66847,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-54.2","catch_line":"Adulteration of food, drink, drugs, cosmetics, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-54.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-54.2","metadata":false},{"id":82347,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-55","catch_line":"Bodily injuries caused by prisoners, state juvenile probationers and state and local adult probationers or adult parolees","url":"\/18.2-55\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-55","metadata":false},{"id":69835,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-55.1","catch_line":"Hazing of youth gang members unlawful; criminal liability","url":"\/18.2-55.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-55.1","metadata":false},{"id":86902,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-56","catch_line":"Hazing unlawful; civil and criminal liability; duty of school, etc., officials; penalty","url":"\/18.2-56\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-56","metadata":false},{"id":75271,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-56.1","catch_line":"Reckless handling of firearms; reckless handling while hunting","url":"\/18.2-56.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-56.1","metadata":false},{"id":57206,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-56.2","catch_line":"Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty","url":"\/18.2-56.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-56.2","metadata":false},{"id":64628,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57","catch_line":"Assault and battery; penalty","url":"\/18.2-57\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57","metadata":false},{"id":58241,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.01","catch_line":"Pointing laser at law-enforcement officer unlawful; penalty","url":"\/18.2-57.01\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.01","metadata":false},{"id":67857,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.02","catch_line":"Disarming a law-enforcement or correctional officer; penalty","url":"\/18.2-57.02\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.02","metadata":false},{"id":65560,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-57.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.1","metadata":false},{"id":72208,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.2","catch_line":"Assault and battery against a family or household member; penalty","url":"\/18.2-57.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.2","metadata":false},{"id":59318,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.3","catch_line":"Persons charged with first offense of assault and battery against a family or household member may be placed on local community-based probation; conditions; education and treatment programs; costs and fees; violations; discharge","url":"\/18.2-57.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.3","metadata":false},{"id":66795,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.4","catch_line":"Reporting findings of assault and battery to military family advocacy representatives","url":"\/18.2-57.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.4","metadata":false},{"id":70823,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-57.5","catch_line":"Certain matters not to constitute defenses","url":"\/18.2-57.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-57.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72243,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51","catch_line":"Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc","url":"\/18.2-51\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68812,"structure_id":13717,"section_number":"18.2-51.2","catch_line":"Aggravated malicious wounding; penalty","url":"\/18.2-51.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-51.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1983. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 578 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1983 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1985, chapter 444; in 1994, chapters 205<\/a> and 427<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 8<\/a> and 120<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 588<\/a> and 623<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 461<\/a> and 841<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 87<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 344<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66829,"section_number":"16.1-269.1","catch_line":"Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-269.1\/"},{"id":62824,"section_number":"16.1-278.8","catch_line":"Delinquent juveniles","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.8\/"},{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":76539,"section_number":"18.2-53.1","catch_line":"Use or display of firearm in committing felony","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-53.1\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":63586,"section_number":"53.1-202.3","catch_line":"Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202.3\/"},{"id":58640,"section_number":"53.1-40.02","catch_line":"Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-40.02\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":62641,"section_number":"10.1-115","catch_line":"Appointment of conservation officers; qualifications; oath","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-115\/"},{"id":58488,"section_number":"15.2-1603","catch_line":"Appointment of deputies; their powers; how removed","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1603\/"},{"id":79396,"section_number":"15.2-1731","catch_line":"Establishment, etc., authorized; powers, authority and immunities generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1731\/"},{"id":69908,"section_number":"15.2-1733","catch_line":"Appointment of auxiliary police officers; revocation of appointment; uniform; organization; rules and regulations","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1733\/"},{"id":83800,"section_number":"18.2-10","catch_line":"Punishment for conviction of felony; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-10\/"},{"id":72243,"section_number":"18.2-51","catch_line":"Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-51\/"},{"id":60388,"section_number":"18.2-52","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury by means of any caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-52\/"},{"id":61271,"section_number":"29.1-200","catch_line":"Appointment of conservation police officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-200\/"},{"id":74269,"section_number":"32.1-111.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-111.1\/"},{"id":74882,"section_number":"65.2-102","catch_line":"Coverage of firefighters and law-enforcement officers in off-duty capacity","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-102\/"}],"permalink":{"id":164969,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72165,"identifier":"18.2-51.1","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.1","url":"\/18.2-51.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-51.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; penalty; lesser-included offense","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-51.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If any person maliciously causes bodily injury to another by any means including the means set out in \u00a7 18.2-52<\/a>, with intent<\/span> to maim, disfigure, disable or kill, and knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a law-enforcement officer<\/span>, as defined hereinafter, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7 65.2-102<\/a>, search and rescue personnel<\/span> as defined hereinafter, or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1<\/a> engaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer<\/span>, firefighter, search and rescue personnel<\/span>, or emergency medical services personnel, such person is guilty of a felony<\/span> punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than five years nor more than 30 years and, subject to subdivision (g) of \u00a7 18.2-10<\/a>, a fine of not more than $100,000. Upon conviction<\/span>, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years.\n\t\tIf any person unlawfully, but not maliciously, with the intent<\/span> aforesaid, causes bodily injury to another by any means, knowing or having reason to know such other person is a law-enforcement officer<\/span>, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7 65.2-102<\/a>, search and rescue personnel<\/span>, or emergency medical services personnel, engaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer<\/span>, firefighter, search and rescue personnel<\/span>, or emergency medical services personnel as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1<\/a>, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>, and upon conviction<\/span>, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed to affect the right of any person charged with a violation of this section from asserting and presenting evidence<\/span> in support of any defenses to the charge that may be available under common law<\/span>.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “law-enforcement officer<\/span>” means any full-time or part-time employee of a police department or sheriff’s office that is part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime<\/span> and the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth; any conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-115<\/a>; any conservation police officer appointed pursuant to \u00a7 29.1-200<\/a>; and auxiliary police officers appointed or provided for pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-1731<\/a> and 15.2-1733<\/a> and auxiliary deputy sheriffs appointed pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603<\/a>.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “search and rescue personnel<\/span>” means any employee or member of a search and rescue organization that is authorized by a resolution or ordinance<\/span> duly adopted by the governing body of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth or any member of a search and rescue organization operating under a memorandum<\/span> of understanding with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.\n\t\tThe provisions of \u00a7 18.2-51<\/a> shall be deemed to provide a lesser-included offense<\/span> hereof.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMALICIOUS BODILY INJURY TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, SEARCH AND\nRESCUE PERSONNEL, OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL; PENALTY;\nLESSER-INCLUDED OFFENSE (\u00a7 18.2-51.1)\n\nIf any person maliciously causes bodily injury to another by any means including\nthe means set out in \u00a7 18.2-52, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or\nkill, and knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a\nlaw-enforcement officer, as defined hereinafter, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7\n65.2-102, search and rescue personnel as defined hereinafter, or emergency\nmedical services personnel, as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1 engaged in the\nperformance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer, firefighter,\nsearch and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, such\nperson is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less\nthan five years nor more than 30 years and, subject to subdivision (g) of \u00a7\n18.2-10, a fine of not more than $100,000. Upon conviction, the sentence of such\nperson shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years.\n\t\tIf any person unlawfully, but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid,\ncauses bodily injury to another by any means, knowing or having reason to know\nsuch other person is a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, as defined in \u00a7\n65.2-102, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel,\nengaged in the performance of his public duties as a law-enforcement officer,\nfirefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services\npersonnel as defined in \u00a7 32.1-111.1, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony, and\nupon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum\nterm of imprisonment of one year.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed to affect the right of any person\ncharged with a violation of this section from asserting and presenting evidence\nin support of any defenses to the charge that may be available under common law.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “law-enforcement officer” means any\nfull-time or part-time employee of a police department or sheriff’s office\nthat is part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision\nthereof, who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime and the\nenforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of the Commonwealth; any\nconservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation\ncommissioned pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-115; any conservation police officer appointed\npursuant to \u00a7 29.1-200; and auxiliary police officers appointed or provided for\npursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-1731 and 15.2-1733 and auxiliary deputy sheriffs appointed\npursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603.\n\t\tAs used in this section, “search and rescue personnel” means any\nemployee or member of a search and rescue organization that is authorized by a\nresolution or ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of any county, city,\nor town of the Commonwealth or any member of a search and rescue organization\noperating under a memorandum of understanding with the Virginia Department of\nEmergency Management.\n\t\tThe provisions of \u00a7 18.2-51 shall be deemed to provide a lesser-included\noffense hereof.\n\nHISTORY: 1983, c. 578; 1985, c. 444; 1994, cc. 205, 427; 1997, cc. 8, 120; 2002,\ncc. 588, 623; 2004, cc. 461, 841; 2007, c. 87; 2010, c. 344; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}