Chapter 525: Law Enforcement and Public Office

Sections

Cross references

See sectional histories for similar State law

  • Law enforcement officer defined - see GEN. OFF. 501.01(k)
  • Misconduct at an emergency - see GEN. OFF. 509.05
  • Making false alarms - see GEN. OFF. 509.07
  • Personating an officer to defraud - see GEN. OFF. 545.16

525.01   Definitions

As used in this chapter:

  1. (a) “Public official” means any elected or appointed officer, or employee, or agent of the State or any political subdivision thereof, whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, and includes, but is not limited to, legislators, judges and law enforcement officers. “Public official” does not include an employee, officer, or governor-appointed member of the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation formed under Ohio R.C. 187.01.

  2. (b) “Public servant” means any of the following:

    1. (1) Any public official;

    2. (2) Any person performing ad hoc a governmental function, including, but not limited to, a juror, member of a temporary commission, master, arbitrator, advisor or consultant;

    3. (3) A person who is a candidate for public office, whether or not the person is elected or appointed to the office for which the person is a candidate. A person is a candidate for purposes of this subsection if the person has been nominated according to law for election or appointment to public office, or if the person has filed a petition or petitions as required by law to have the person’s name placed on the ballot in a primary, general or special election, or if the person campaigns as a write-in candidate in any primary, general or special election. “Public servant” does not include an employee, officer, or governor-appointed member of the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation formed under Ohio R.C. 187.01.

  3. (c) “Party official” means any person who holds an elective or appointive post in a political party in the United States or this State, by virtue of which the person directs, conducts or participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level of responsibility.

  4. (d) “Official proceeding” means any proceeding before a legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath, and includes any proceeding before a referee, hearing examiner, commissioner, notary or other person taking testimony or a deposition in connection with an official proceeding.

  5. (e) “Detention” means arrest, confinement in any vehicle subsequent to an arrest, confinement in any public or private facility for custody of persons charged with or convicted of a crime in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly child in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States; hospitalization, institutionalization or confinement in any public or private facility that is ordered pursuant to or under the authority of Ohio R.C. 2945.37, 2945.371, 2945.38, 2945.39 or 2945.40, 2945.401 or 2945.402; confinement in any vehicle for transportation to or from any facility of any of those natures; detention for extradition or deportation, except as provided in this subsection, supervision by any employee of any facility of any of those natures; that is incidental to hospitalization, institutionalization or confinement in the facility but that occurs outside the facility; supervision by an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction of a person on any type of release from a State correctional institution; or confinement in any vehicle, airplane, or place while being returned from outside of this State into this State by a private person or entity pursuant to a contract entered into under Ohio R.C. 311.29(E) or Ohio R.C. 5149.03(B). For a person confined in a county jail who participates in a county jail industry program pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5147.30, “detention” includes time spent at an assigned work site and going to and from the work site.

  6. (f) “Detention facility” means any public or private place used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of any crime in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly child in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States.

  7. (g) “Valuable thing or valuable benefit” includes, but is not limited to, a contribution. This inclusion does not indicate or imply that a contribution was not included in those terms before September 17, 1986.

  8. (h) “Campaign committee,” “contribution,” “political action committee,” “legislative campaign fund,” and “political party” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 3517.01.

  9. (i) “Provider agreement” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 5164.01.
    (ORC 2921.01)

525.02   Falsification

  1. (a) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies:

    1. (1) The statement is made in any official proceeding.

    2. (2) The statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.

    3. (3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in performing the public official’s official function.

    4. (4) The statement is made with purpose to secure the payment of unemployment compensation; Ohio works first; prevention, retention and contingency benefits and services; disability financial assistance; retirement benefits or health care coverage from a state retirement system; economic development assistance as defined in Ohio R.C. 9.66; or other benefits administered by a governmental agency or paid out of a public treasury.

    5. (5) The statement is made with purpose to secure the issuance by a governmental agency of a license, permit, authorization, certificate, registration, release or provider agreement.

    6. (6) The statement is sworn or affirmed before a notary public or another person empowered to administer oaths.

    7. (7) The statement is in writing on or in connection with a report or return that is required or authorized by law.

    8. (8) The statement is in writing, and is made with purpose to induce another to extend credit to or employ the offender, or to confer any degree, diploma, certificate of attainment, award of excellence or honor on the offender, or to extend to or bestow upon the offender any other valuable benefit or distinction, when the person to whom the statement is directed relies upon it to that person’s detriment.

    9. (9) The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense.

    10. (10) The statement is knowingly made to a probate court in connection with any action, proceeding or other matter within its jurisdiction, either orally or in a written document, including, but not limited to, an application, petition, complaint or other pleading, or an inventory, account or report.

    11. (11) The statement is made on an account, form, record, stamp, label or other writing that is required by law.

    12. (12) The statement is made in a document or instrument of writing that purports to be a judgment, lien, or claim of indebtedness and is filed or recorded with the Secretary of State, a county recorder, or the clerk of a court of record.

    13. (13) The statement is required under Ohio R.C. 5743.71 in connection with the person’s purchase of cigarettes or tobacco products in a delivery sale.

  2. (b) It is no defense to a charge under subsection (a)(6) hereof that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner.

  3. (c) If contradictory statements relating to the same fact are made by the offender within the period of the statute of limitations for falsification, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which statement was false, but only that one or the other was false.

  4. (d)

    1. (1) Whoever violates any provision of subsection (a)(1) to (8) or (10) to (13) hereof is guilty of falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

    2. (2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(9) hereof is guilty of falsification in a theft offense, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, falsification in a theft offense is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

  5. (e) A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to any person harmed by the violation for injury, death, or loss to person or property incurred as a result of the commission of the offense and for reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, and other expenses incurred as a result of prosecuting the civil action commenced under this section. A civil action under this section is not the exclusive remedy of a person who incurs injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of a violation of this section.
    (ORC 2921.13)

525.03   Impersonation of peace officer

  1. (a) As used in this section:

    1. (1) “Peace officer” means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation or township constable who is employed by a political subdivision of this State; a member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under Ohio R.C. 3735.31(D); a member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under Ohio R.C. 306.35(Y), a State university law enforcement officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 3345.04; a veterans’ home police officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 5907.02; a special police officer employed by a port authority under Ohio R.C. 4582.04 or 4582.28; an officer, agent, or employee of the State or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, upon whom, by statute, a duty to conserve the peace or to enforce all or certain laws is imposed and the authority to arrest violators is conferred, within limits of that statutory duty and authority; or a State highway patrol trooper whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property and to enforce the laws, ordinances or rules of the State or any of its political subdivisions.

    2. (2) “Private police officer” means any security guard, special police officer, private detective or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity.

    3. (3) “Federal law enforcement officer” means an employee of the United States who serves in a position the duties of which are primarily the investigation, apprehension or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses under the criminal laws of the United States.

    4. (4) “Investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2903.11.

    5. (5) “Impersonate” means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons.

  2. (b) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer or investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

  3. (c) No person, by impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, or Investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, shall arrest or detain any person, search any person or search the property of any person.

  4. (d) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer or investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation or an officer, agent or employee of the State or the Municipality.

  5. (e) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (b) hereof that the impersonation of the peace officer was for a lawful purpose.

  6. (f) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates subsections (c) or (d) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the purpose of a violation of subsection (d) hereof is to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
    (ORC 2921.51)

525.04   Compounding a crime

  1. (a) No person shall knowingly demand, accept or agree to accept anything of value in consideration of abandoning or agreeing to abandon a pending criminal prosecution.

  2. (b) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section when both of the following apply:

    1. (1) The pending prosecution involved is for violation of Sections 545.05, 545.07, 545.09 or 545.10(b)(2), or Ohio R.C. 2913.02, 2913.11, 2913.21(B)(2) or 2913.47, of which the actor under this section was the victim.

    2. (2) The thing of value demanded, accepted or agreed to be accepted, in consideration of abandoning or agreeing to abandon the prosecution, did not exceed an amount that the actor reasonably believed due him as restitution for the loss caused him by the offense.

  3. (c) When a prosecuting witness abandons or agrees to abandon a prosecution under subsection (b) hereof, the abandonment or agreement in no way binds the State or Municipality to abandoning the prosecution.

  4. (d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of compounding a crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
    (ORC 2921.21)

525.05   Failure to report a crime, injury or knowledge of death

  1. (a)

    1. (1) Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) hereof, no person, knowing that a felony has been or is being committed, shall knowingly fail to report such information to law enforcement authorities.

    2. (2) No person, knowing that a violation of division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2913.04 has been, or is being committed or that the person has received information derived from such a violation, shall knowingly fail to report the violation to law enforcement authorities.

  2. (b) Except for conditions that are within the scope of subsection (e) of this section, no person giving aid to a sick or injured person shall negligently fail to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the person, or any serious physical harm to persons that the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from an offense of violence.

  3. (c) No person who discovers the body or acquires the first knowledge of the death of a person shall fail to report the death immediately to a physician or advanced practice registered nurse whom the person knows to be treating the deceased for a condition from which death at such time would not be unexpected, or to a law enforcement officer, an ambulance service, an emergency squad, or the coroner in a political subdivision in which the body is discovered, the death is believed to have occurred, or knowledge concerning the death is obtained. For purposes of this subsection (c), “advanced practice registered nurse” does not include a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

  4. (d) No person shall fail to provide upon request of the person to whom a report required by subsection (c) of this section was made, or to any law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to assert the authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, any facts within the person’s knowledge that may have a bearing on the investigation of the death.

  5. (e)

    1. (1) As used in this subsection, “burn injury” means any of the following:

      1. (A) Second or third degree burns;

      2. (B) Any burns to the upper respiratory tract or laryngeal edema due to the inhalation of superheated air;

      3. (C) Any burn injury or wound that may result in death;

      4. (D) Any physical harm to persons caused by or as the result of the use of fireworks, novelties and trick noisemakers, and wire sparklers, as each is defined by Ohio R.C. 3743.01.

    2. (2) No physician, nurse, physician assistant, or limited practitioner who, outside a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility, attends or treats a person who has sustained a burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device, or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner, shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.

    3. (3) No manager, superintendent or other person in charge of a hospital, sanitarium or other medical facility in which a person is attended or treated for any burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device, or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner, shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.

    4. (4) No person who is required to report any burn injury under subsection (e)(2) or (3) of this section shall fail to file, within three working days after attending or treating the victim, a written report of the burn injury with the office of the State Fire Marshal. The report shall comply with the uniform standard developed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3737.22(A)(15).

    5. (5) Anyone participating in the making of reports under subsection (e) of this section or anyone participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from the reports is immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions. Notwithstanding Ohio R.C. 4731.22, the physician-patient relationship or advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship is not a ground for excluding evidence regarding a person’s burn injury or the cause of the burn injury in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted under subsection (e) of this section.

  6. (f)

    1. (1) Any doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, hospital intern or resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, independent social worker, social work assistant, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist or marriage and family therapist who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a patient or client has been the victim of domestic violence, as defined in Ohio R.C. 3113.31, shall note that knowledge or belief and the basis for it in the patient’s or client’s records.

    2. (2) Notwithstanding Ohio R.C. 4731.22, the physician-patient privilege or advanced practice registered nurse-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding any information regarding the report containing the knowledge or belief noted under subsection (f)(1) of this section, and the information may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence.

  7. (g) Subsections (a) and (d) of this section do not require disclosure of information, when any of the following applies:

    1. (1) The information is privileged by reason of the relationship between attorney and client; physician and patient; advanced practice registered nurse and patient; licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist and client; licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist and client; member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest and any person communicating information confidentially to the member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest for a religious counseling purpose of a professional character; husband and wife; or a communications assistant and those who are a party to a telecommunications relay service call.

    2. (2) The information would tend to incriminate a member of the actor’s immediate family.

    3. (3) Disclosure of the information would amount to revealing a news source, privileged under Ohio R.C. 2739.04 or 2739.12.

    4. (4) Disclosure of the information would amount to disclosure by a member of the ordained clergy of an organized religious body of a confidential communication made to that member of the clergy in that member’s capacity as a member of the clergy by a person seeking the aid or counsel of that member of the clergy.

    5. (5) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor’s duties in connection with a bona fide program of treatment or services for drug dependent persons or persons in danger of drug dependence, which program is maintained or conducted by a hospital, clinic, person, agency, or community addiction services provider whose alcohol and drug addiction services are certified pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5119.36.

    6. (6) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor’s duties in connection with a bona fide program for providing counseling services to victims of crimes that are violations of Ohio R.C. 2907.02 or 2907.05 or to victims of felonious sexual penetration in violation of former Ohio R.C. 2907.12. As used in this subsection, “counseling services” include services provided in an informal setting by a person who, by education or experience, is competent to provide those services.

  8. (h) No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.

  9. (i) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) of this section is guilty of failure to report a crime. Violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Violation of subsection (a)(2) or (b) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

  10. (j) Whoever violates subsection (c) or (d) of this section is guilty of failure to report knowledge of a death, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

  11. (k)

    1. (1) Whoever negligently violates subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

    2. (2) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

  12. (l) As used in this section, “nurse” includes an advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse.
    (ORC 2921.22)

525.06   Failure to aid a law enforcement officer

  1. (a) No person shall negligently fail or refuse to aid a law enforcement officer, when called upon for assistance in preventing or halting the commission of an offense, or in apprehending or detaining an offender, when such aid can be given without a substantial risk of physical harm to the person giving it.

  2. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to aid a law enforcement officer, a minor misdemeanor.
    (ORC 2921.23)

525.07   Obstructing official business

  1. (a) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public official’s official capacity, shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official’s lawful duties.

  2. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing official business. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), obstructing official business is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If a violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, obstructing official business is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
    (ORC 2921.31)

525.08   Obstructing justice

  1. (a) No person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for a misdemeanor, or to assist another to benefit from the commission of a misdemeanor, and no person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, adjudication as a delinquent child, or disposition of a child for an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor or to assist a child to benefit from the commission of an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor, shall do any of the following:

    1. (1) Harbor or conceal the other person or child;

    2. (2) Provide the other person or child with money, transportation, a weapon, a disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;

    3. (3) Warn the other person or child of impending discovery or apprehension;

    4. (4) Destroy or conceal physical evidence of the misdemeanor, or act, or induce any person to withhold testimony or information or to elude legal process summoning the person to testify or supply evidence;

    5. (5) Communicate false information to any person.

    6. (6) Prevent or obstruct any person, by means of force, intimidation, or deception, from performing any act to aid in the discovery, apprehension, or prosecution of the other person or child.

  2. (b) A person may be prosecuted for, and may be convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for committing, a violation of subsection (a) hereof, regardless of whether the person or child aided ultimately is apprehended for, is charged with, is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the crime or act the person or child aided committed. The crime or act the person or child aided committed shall be used under subsection (c) hereof in determining the penalty for the violation of subsection (a) hereof, regardless of whether the person or child aided ultimately is apprehended for, is charged with, is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the crime or act the person or child aided committed.

  3. (c)

    1. (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing justice.

    2. (2) If the crime committed by the person aided is a misdemeanor or if the act committed by the child aided would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult, obstructing justice is a misdemeanor of the same degree as the misdemeanor committed by the person aided or a misdemeanor of the same degree that the act committed by the child aided would be if committed by an adult.

  4. (d) As used in this section:

    1. (1) “Adult” and “child” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2151.011.

    2. (2) “Delinquent child” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2152.02.
      (ORC 2921.32)

525.09   Resisting arrest

  1. (a) No person, recklessly or by force, shall resist or interfere with a lawful arrest of the person or another.

  2. (b) No person, recklessly or by force, shall resist or interfere with a lawful arrest of the person or another person and, during the course of or as a result of the resistance or interference, cause physical harm to a law enforcement officer.

  3. (c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of resisting arrest. A violation of subsection (a) hereof is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of subsection (b) hereof is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
    (ORC 2921.33)

525.10   Having an unlawful interest in a public contract

  1. (a) No public official shall knowingly do any of the following:

    1. (1) During the public official’s term of office or within one year thereafter, occupy any position of profit in the prosecution of a public contract authorized by the public official or by a legislative body, commission or board of which the public official was a member at the time of authorization unless the contract was let by competitive bidding, to the lowest and best bidder;

    2. (2) Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract entered into by or for the use of the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality with which the public official is connected;

    3. (3) Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract that is not let by competitive bidding if required by law, and that involves more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

  2. (b) In the absence of bribery or a purpose to defraud, a public official, member of a public official’s family or any of a public official’s business associates shall not be considered as having an interest in a public contract if all of the following apply:

    1. (1) The interest of that person is limited to owning or controlling shares of the corporation, or being a creditor of the corporation or other organization that is the contractor on the public contract involved, or that is the issuer of the security in which public funds are invested;

    2. (2) The shares owned or controlled by that person do not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the corporation, and the amount due that person as creditor does not exceed five percent (5%) of the total indebtedness of the corporation or other organization;

    3. (3) That person, prior to the time the public contract is entered into, files with the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, an affidavit giving that person’s exact status in connection with the corporation or other organization.

  3. (c) This section does not apply to a public contract in which a public official, member of a public official’s family, or one of a public official’s business associates, has an interest, when all of the following apply:

    1. (1) The subject of the public contract is necessary supplies or services for the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;

    2. (2) The supplies or services are unobtainable elsewhere for the same or lower cost, or are being furnished to the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality as part of a continuing course of dealing established prior to the public official’s becoming associated with the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;

    3. (3) The treatment accorded the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality is either preferential to or the same as that accorded other customers or clients in similar transactions;

    4. (4) The entire transaction is conducted at arm’s length, with full knowledge by the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, of the interest of the public official, member of the public official’s family or business associate, and the public official takes no part in the deliberations or decisions of the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality with respect to the public contract.

  4. (d) Subsection (a)(4) does not prohibit participation by a public employee in any housing program funded by public moneys if the public employee otherwise qualifies for the program and does not use the authority or influence of the public employee’s office or employment to secure benefits from the program and if the moneys are to be used on the primary residence of the public employee. Such participation does not constitute an unlawful interest in a public contract in violation of this section.

  5. (e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of having an unlawful interest in a public contract. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

  6. (f) It is not a violation of this section for a prosecuting attorney to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 309.06 and 2921.421, or for a chief legal officer of a municipal corporation or an official designated as prosecutor in a municipal corporation to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 733.621 and 2921.421.

  7. (g) Any public contract in which a public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest in violation of this section is void and unenforceable. Any contract securing the investment of public funds in which a public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest, is an underwriter, or receives any brokerage, origination, or servicing fees and that was entered into in violation of this section is void and unenforceable.

  8. (h) As used in this section:

    1. (1) “Public contract” means any of the following:

      1. (A) The purchase or acquisition, or a contract for the purchase or acquisition of property or services by or for the use of the State, any of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of either, including the employment of an individual by the State, any of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of either.

      2. (B) A contract for the design, construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of any public property.

    2. (2) “Chief legal officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 733.621.
      (ORC 2921.42)

525.11   Soliciting or receiving improper compensation

  1. (a) No public servant shall knowingly solicit or accept and no person shall knowingly promise or give to a public servant either of the following:

    1. (1) Any compensation, other than is allowed by Ohio R.C. 102.03(G), (H), and (I) or other provisions of law, to perform the public servant’s official duties, to perform any other act or service in the public servant’s public capacity, for the general performance of the duties of the public servant’s public office or public employment, or as a supplement to the public servant’s public compensation;

    2. (2) Additional or greater fees or costs than are allowed by law to perform the public servant’s official duties.

  2. (b) No public servant for the public servant’s own personal or business use and no person for the person’s own personal or business use or for the personal or business use of a public servant or party official, shall solicit or accept anything of value in consideration of either of the following:

    1. (1) Appointing or securing, maintaining or renewing the appointment of any person to any public office, employment or agency;

    2. (2) Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, location, promotion or other material aspects of employment.

  3. (c) No person for the benefit of a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action committee shall coerce any contribution in consideration of either of the following:

    1. (1) Appointing or securing, maintaining or renewing the appointment of any person to any public office, employment or agency;

    2. (2) Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, location, promotion or other material aspects of employment.

  4. (d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of soliciting improper compensation, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

  5. (e) A public servant who is convicted of a violation of this section is disqualified from holding any public office, employment or position of trust in this Municipality for a period of seven years from the date of conviction.

  6. (f) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof do not prohibit a person from making voluntary contributions to a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action committee or prohibit a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action committee from accepting voluntary contributions.
    (ORC 2921.43)

525.12   Dereliction of duty

  1. (a) No law enforcement officer shall negligently do any of the following:

    1. (1) Fail to serve a lawful warrant without delay;

    2. (2) Fail to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend an offender, when it is in the law enforcement officer’s power to do so alone or with available assistance.

  2. (b) No law enforcement, ministerial or judicial officer shall negligently fail to perform a lawful duty in a criminal case or proceeding.

  3. (c) No officer, having charge of a detention facility, shall negligently do any of the following:

    1. (1) Allow the detention facility to become littered or unsanitary;

    2. (2) Fail to provide persons confined in the detention facility with adequate food, clothing, bedding, shelter and medical attention;

    3. (3) Fail to control an unruly prisoner, or to prevent intimidation of or physical harm to a prisoner by another;

    4. (4) Allow a prisoner to escape;

    5. (5) Fail to observe any lawful and reasonable regulation for the management of the detention facility.

  4. (d) No public official of the Municipality shall recklessly create a deficiency, incur a liability or expend a greater sum than is appropriated by the legislative authority of the Municipality for the use in any one year of the department, agency or institution with which the public official is connected.

  5. (e) No public servant shall recklessly fail to perform a duty expressly imposed by law with respect to the public servant’s office, or recklessly do any act expressly forbidden by law with respect to the public servant’s office.

  6. (f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of dereliction of duty, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

  7. (g) As used in this section, “public servant” includes an officer or employee of a contractor as defined in Ohio R.C. 9.08.

525.13   Interfering with civil rights

  1. (a) No public servant, under color of the public servant’s office, employment, or authority, shall knowingly deprive, or conspire or attempt to deprive any person of a constitutional or statutory right.

  2. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of interfering with civil rights, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
    (ORC 2921.45)

525.14   Unauthorized display of law enforcement emblems on motor vehicles

  1. (a) No person who is not entitled to do so shall knowingly display on a motor vehicle the emblem of a law enforcement agency or an organization of law enforcement officers.

  2. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of the unlawful display of the emblem of a law enforcement agency or an organization of law enforcement officers, a minor misdemeanor.
    (ORC 2913.441)

525.15   Assaulting police dog or horse or an assistance dog

  1. (a) No person shall knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, physical harm to a police dog or horse in either of the following circumstances:

    1. (1) The police dog or horse is assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s official duties at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted.

    2. (2) The police dog or horse is not assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s official duties at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted, but the offender has actual knowledge that the dog or horse is a police dog or horse.

  2. (b) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:

    1. (1) Taunt, torment, or strike a police dog or horse;

    2. (2) Throw an object or substance at a police dog or horse;

    3. (3) Interfere with or obstruct a police dog or horse, or interfere with or obstruct a law enforcement officer who is being assisted by a police dog or horse, in a manner that does any of the following:

      1. (A) Inhibits or restricts the law enforcement officer’s control of the police dog or horse;

      2. (B) Deprives the law enforcement officer of control of the police dog or horse;

      3. (C) Releases the police dog or horse from its area of control;

      4. (D) Enters the area of control of the police dog or horse without the consent of the law enforcement officer, including placing food or any other object or substance into that area;

      5. (E) Inhibits or restricts the ability of the police dog or horse to assist a law enforcement officer.

    4. (4) Engage in any conduct that is likely to cause serious physical injury or death to a police dog or horse.

    5. (5) If the person is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog, fail to reasonably restrain the dog from taunting, tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise endanger a police dog or horse that at the time of the conduct is assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s duties or that the person knows is a police dog or horse.

  3. (c) No person shall knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, physical harm to an assistance dog in either of the following circumstances:

    1. (1) The dog is assisting or serving a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted.

    2. (2) The dog is not assisting or serving a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted, but the offender has actual knowledge that the dog is an assistance dog.

  4. (d) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:

    1. (1) Taunt, torment, or strike an assistance dog;

    2. (2) Throw an object or substance at an assistance dog;

    3. (3) Interfere with or obstruct an assistance dog, or interfere with or obstruct a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person who is being assisted or served by an assistance dog, in a manner that does any of the following:

      1. (A) Inhibits or restricts the assisted or served person’s control of the dog;

      2. (B) Deprives the assisted or served person of control of the dog;

      3. (C) Releases the dog from its area of control;

      4. (D) Enters the area of control of the dog without the consent of the assisted or served person, including placing food or any other object or substance into that area;

      5. (E) Inhibits or restricts the ability of the dog to assist the assisted or served person.

    4. (4) Engage in any conduct that is likely to cause serious physical injury or death to an assistance dog;

    5. (5) If the person is the owner, keeper or harborer of a dog, fail to reasonably restrain the dog from taunting, tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise endanger an assistance dog that at the time of the conduct is assisting or serving a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person or that the person knows is an assistance dog.

  5. (e)

    1. (1) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of assaulting a police dog or horse. If the violation results in physical harm to the police dog or horse, assaulting a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation does not result in death, serious physical harm, or physical harm to the police dog or horse, assaulting a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in death or serious physical harm to the police dog or horse, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

    2. (2) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of harassing a police dog or horse. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, harassing a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in the death of the police dog or horse or if the violation results in serious physical harm to the police dog or horse but does not result in its death, harassing a police dog or horse is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. If the violation results in physical harm to the police dog or horse but does not result in its death or in serious physical harm to it, harassing a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

    3. (3) Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of assaulting an assistance dog. If the violation results in physical harm to the dog other than death or serious physical harm, assaulting an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation does not result in death, serious physical harm, or physical harm to the dog, assaulting an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in death or serious physical harm to the dog, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

    4. (4) Whoever violates subsection (d) of this section is guilty of harassing an assistance dog. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, harassing an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in the death of or serious physical harm to the assistance dog but does not result in its death, harassing an assistance dog is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. If the violation results in physical harm to the assistance dog but does not result in its death or in serious physical harm to it, harassing an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

    5. (5) In addition to any other sanction or penalty imposed for the offense under this section, whoever violates subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section is responsible for the payment of all of the following:

      1. (A) Any veterinary bill or bill for medication incurred as a result of the violation by the Police Department regarding a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section or by the blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person assisted or served by the assistance dog regarding a violation of subsection (c) or (d) of this section;

      2. (B) The cost of any damaged equipment that results from the violation;

      3. (C) If the violation did not result in the death of the police dog or horse or the assistance dog that was the subject of the violation and if, as a result of that dog or horse being the subject of the violation, the dog or horse needs further training or retraining to be able to continue in the capacity of a police dog or horse or an assistance dog, the cost of any further training or retraining of that dog or horse by a law enforcement officer or by the blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person assisted or served by the assistance dog;

      4. (D) If the violation resulted in the death of the assistance dog that was the subject of the violation or resulted in serious physical harm to the police dog or horse or the assistance dog or horse that was the subject of the violation to the extent that the dog or horse needs to be replaced on either a temporary or a permanent basis, the cost of replacing that dog or horse and of any further training of a new police dog or horse or a new assistance dog by a law enforcement officer or by the blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person assisted or served by the assistance dog, which replacement or training is required because of the death of or the serious physical harm to the dog or horse that was the subject of the violation.

  6. (f) This section does not apply to a licensed veterinarian whose conduct is in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4741.

  7. (g) This section only applies to an offender who knows or should know at the time of the violation that the police dog or horse or assistance dog that is the subject of a violation under this section is a police dog or horse or assistance dog.

  8. (h) As used in this section:

    1. (1) “Physical harm” means any injury, illness, or other physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.

    2. (2) “Police dog or horse” means a dog or horse that has been trained, and may be used, to assist law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.

    3. (3) “Serious physical harm” means any of the following:

      1. (A) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;

      2. (B) Any physical harm that causes permanent maiming or that involves some temporary, substantial maiming;

      3. (C) Any physical harm that causes acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering.

    4. (4) “Assistance dog”, “blind”, and “mobility impaired person” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 955.011.
      (ORC 2921.321)

525.16   False allegation of peace officer misconduct

  1. (a) As used in this section, “peace officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2935.01.

  2. (b) No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the officer’s duties if the person knows that the allegation is false.

  3. (c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making a false allegation of peace officer misconduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
    (ORC 2921.15)

525.17   Refusal to disclose personal information in public place

  1. (a) No person who is in a public place shall refuse to disclose the person’s name, address, or date of birth, when requested by a law enforcement officer who reasonably suspects either of the following:

    1. (1) The person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a criminal offense.

    2. (2) The person witnessed any of the following:

      1. (A) An offense of violence that would constitute a felony under the laws of this State;

      2. (B) A felony offense that causes or results in, or creates a substantial risk of, serious physical harm to another person or to property;

      3. (C) Any attempt or conspiracy to commit, or complicity in committing, any offense identified in subsection (a)(2)A. or B. of this section;

      4. (D) Any conduct reasonably indicating that any offense identified in subsection (a)(2)A. or B. of this section or any attempt, conspiracy, or complicity described in subsection (a)(2)C. of this section has been, is being, or is about to be committed.

  2. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to disclose one’s personal information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

  3. (c) Nothing in this section requires a person to answer any questions beyond that person’s name, address, or date of birth. Nothing in this section authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest a person for not providing any information beyond that person’s name, address, or date of birth or for refusing to describe the offense observed.

  4. (d) It is not a violation of this section to refuse to answer a question that would reveal a person’s age or date of birth if age is an element of the crime that the person is suspected of committing.
    (ORC 2921.29)

525.99   Penalty

(Editor’s note: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)