2010 Wyoming Statutes
Title 7 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 2 - Peace Officers

CHAPTER 2 - PEACE OFFICERS

 

7-2-101. Definitions.

 

(a) As used in W.S. 7-2-101 through 7-2-107:

 

(i) "Deadly weapon" means as defined by W.S. 6-1-104(a)(iv);

 

(ii) "Felony" means as defined by W.S. 6-10-101;

 

(iii) "Misdemeanor" means as defined by W.S. 6-10-101;

 

(iv) "Peace officer" means:

 

(A) Any duly authorized sheriff, under sheriff or deputy sheriff who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

 

(B) Any duly authorized member of a municipal police force, a college or university campus police force or the Wyoming highway patrol who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

 

(C) Game and fish law enforcement personnel qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707 and:

 

(I) When enforcing felony statutes following observation or discovery of the commission of a felony which was observed or discovered during the performance of their statutory duties;

 

(II) While responding to requests to assist other peace officers performing their official duties or when enforcing a valid arrest warrant for any crime; or

 

(III) When enforcing any provision of title 23 and chapter 13 of title 41, any rule and regulation promulgated by the Wyoming game and fish commission or any other statute for which they are granted statutory enforcement authority.

 

(D) Agents of the division of criminal investigation appointed pursuant to W.S. 9-1-613 who have qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

 

(E) Investigators and brand inspectors of the Wyoming livestock board who have qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707:

 

(I) When enforcing W.S. 6-3-201, 6-3-203, 6-3-401 through 6-3-403, 6-3-407, 6-3-410, 6-3-601 through 6-3-603, 6-3-607, 6-3-610 through 6-3-612, 6-9-202, 35-10-101, 35-10-102 and 35-10-104, the provisions of title 11 and any laws prohibiting theft, killing or mutilation of livestock or any part thereof and any rule or regulation promulgated by the Wyoming livestock board or any other law for which they are granted statutory enforcement authority;

 

(II) When responding to a request to assist another peace officer as defined in this paragraph performing his official duty; or

 

(III) Enforcing a valid arrest warrant for a crime specified in subdivision (E)(I) of this paragraph.

 

(F) Any duly authorized arson investigator employed by the state fire marshal who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

 

(G) Any superintendent, assistant superintendent or full-time park ranger of any state park, state recreation area, state archeological site or state historic site who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707, when acting within the boundaries of the state park, state recreation area, state archeological site or state historic site, or when responding to a request to assist other peace officers performing their official duties;

 

(H) Any duly authorized detention officer in the performance of his duties and who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707;

 

(J) Investigators employed by the Wyoming state board of outfitters and professional guides and qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707, when enforcing W.S. 23-2-401 and 23-2-406 through 23-2-418 and board rules and regulations promulgated under W.S. 23-2-410(a)(ii);

 

(K) Any peace officer certified by another state who has been appointed as a special deputy sheriff of a Wyoming county pursuant to W.S. 18-3-602(c);

 

(M) Certified law enforcement officers of an adjoining state while responding to a request for assistance from a peace officer in this state pursuant to the "Law Enforcement Interstate Mutual Aid Act" or other lawful request;

 

(N) The director and full-time staff instructors of the Wyoming law enforcement academy when duly appointed and acting pursuant to W.S. 9-1-633(b); and

 

(O) Any duly authorized court security officer employed by the Wyoming supreme court who is qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707 when:

 

(I) Enforcing Wyoming statutes or supreme court rules on premises where the supreme court is conducting business;

 

(II) In fresh pursuit of a person whom the officer has probable cause to believe has committed within the officer's jurisdiction a violation of a state statute, or for whom an arrest warrant is outstanding for any criminal offense; or

 

(III) When responding to a request to assist other peace officers acting within the scope of their official duties in their own jurisdiction.

 

7-2-102. Preconditions for arrests.

 

 

(a) A peace officer may arrest a person when the officer has a warrant commanding that the person be arrested or the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a warrant for the person's arrest has been issued in this state or in another jurisdiction.

 

(b) A peace officer may arrest a person without a warrant when:

 

(i) Any criminal offense is being committed in the officer's presence by the person to be arrested;

 

(ii) The officer has probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed and that the person to be arrested has committed it; or

 

(iii) The officer has probable cause to believe that a misdemeanor has been committed, that the person to be arrested has committed it and that the person, unless immediately arrested:

 

(A) Will not be apprehended;

 

(B) May cause injury to himself or others or damage to property; or

 

(C) May destroy or conceal evidence of the commission of the misdemeanor.

 

7-2-103. Issuance of citations.

 

(a) A citation may issue as a charging document for any misdemeanor which the issuing officer has probable cause to believe was committed by the person to whom the citation was issued.

 

(b) A person may be released if, after investigation, it appears that the person:

 

(i) Does not present a danger to himself or others;

 

(ii) Will not injure or destroy the property of others;

 

(iii) Will appear for future court proceedings; and

 

(iv) Is willing to sign a citation promising to appear in court at the time and on the date specified in the citation.

 

(c) The person may be released from custody upon the directive of:

 

(i) The arresting officer;

 

(ii) The district attorney or, for cases being prosecuted in municipal court, the city attorney;

 

(iii) Another peace officer designated by the sheriff or, for cases being prosecuted in municipal court, the chief of police.

 

(d) The citation for a person in custody may be issued by the arresting officer or by another peace officer designated by:

 

(i) The district attorney or the city attorney for cases being prosecuted in municipal court; or

 

(ii) The sheriff or the chief of police for cases being prosecuted in municipal court.

 

(e) For purposes of this section, "issuing officer" means a peace officer, or a special municipal officer acting in accordance with the terms of his appointment under W.S. 15-1-103(a)(l). A "special municipal officer" means a municipal employee whose duties include the areas of animal control, parking or municipal code enforcement.

 

7-2-104. Authority to seize deadly weapons; disposition.

 

(a) A peace officer may take into possession any deadly weapons found in the possession of a person arrested if:

 

(i) The peace officer has reason to believe the weapon will be used to endanger the safety of the officer or the public; or

 

(ii) The person arrested might seek to use the weapon to resist arrest or to escape.

 

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, nothing in this section shall authorize a peace officer to take into possession any deadly weapon when enforcing the game and fish provisions contained in title 23 of the Wyoming statutes provided the safety of the officer or the public is not endangered. A peace officer may take into possession a deadly weapon as authorized by W.S. 23-6-208.

 

(c) Deadly weapons seized under this section shall be returned or disposed of as provided by W.S. 7-2-105 unless otherwise ordered by the court.

 

7-2-105. Disposition and appraisal of property seized or held; notice and order to show cause; judgment.

 

(a) When personal property not subject to be summarily destroyed is seized or held by any peace officer pursuant to any law of this state, or when property seized by any peace officer is delivered to the appropriate law enforcement agency under provisions other than W.S. 35-7-1049, or property is taken into custody as lost, mislaid or abandoned, the head of the law enforcement agency shall forthwith ascertain as closely as practicable:

 

(i) The approximate value of the property;

 

(ii) The facts giving rise to the seizure or custody;

 

(iii) The name and position of the person making the seizure or taking the property into custody;

 

(iv) The name and address of the owners of the property or those persons who were in possession of the property at the time of the seizure;

 

(v) The names and addresses of all persons known to have an interest in the property seized.

 

(b) Any property seized by a peace officer shall be delivered immediately to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The head of the law enforcement agency shall maintain custody of the property pending an order of disposal by the court pursuant to this section unless the property is otherwise released according to this section.

 

(c) If the property is lost, mislaid, abandoned or unclaimed or if possession of the property is unlawful, the law enforcement agency shall seek in circuit court or district court an order to show cause why the property should not be sold or forfeited and sold at public auction or transferred to the use of the law enforcement agency. If the lawful owner of the property can reasonably be ascertained, the property shall be delivered to him without judicial action unless the property constitutes evidence of a crime, the possession of the property would be unlawful or ownership and interest are in dispute.

 

(d) Notice and proceedings on the order to show cause shall be according to the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, provided notice by publication shall be once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks. The trial of the issues shall be by the court.

 

(e) On final hearing the order to show cause shall be taken as prima facie evidence that the property is abandoned or unclaimed and is sufficient for a judgment of forfeiture in the absence of other proof.

 

(f) In disputed ownership cases the burden shall be upon the claimants to show that they are the lawful owners or have a legally recognizable interest in the property.

 

(g) When the property is encumbered, the court shall, after deducting costs, direct the payment of the encumbrance from the proceeds of any sale of the property or distribute the property equitably between those persons having a legal interest.

 

(h) The proceedings and judgment of forfeiture shall be in rem and shall be primarily against the property itself.

 

(j) Upon the entry of a judgment of forfeiture the court shall determine the disposition to be made of the property, which may include the destruction or sale of the property or the allocation of the property to some other governmental function or use or otherwise, as the court may determine.

 

(k) Sale of the property shall be at public auction to the highest bidder for cash after two (2) weeks public notice as the court may direct.

 

(m) Upon the application of any claimant, the court may fix the value of a forfeitable interest in the seized property and permit the claimant to redeem the property upon the payment of a sum equal to the value, which sum shall be disposed of as would the proceeds of the sale of the property under a judgment of forfeiture.

 

(n) The balance of the proceeds, if any, shall be deposited in the general operating account of the state, county or municipal entity that has fiscal authority over the law enforcement agency confiscating the property.

 

(o) This section does not apply to property which is subject to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, W.S. 34-24-101 through 34-24-140.

 

(p) For purposes of this section, seized property that is not subject to W.S. 35-7-1049 may be summarily destroyed, provided the lawful owner has been contacted and has declined to take possession of the property, including:

 

(i) Evidence that is no longer needed for the prosecution of a case, or needed for purposes of appellate review of the case;

 

(ii) Evidence in misdemeanor cases in which the district attorney has determined that no suspect has been identified or prosecution has not been pursued for at least one (1) year;

 

(iii) Evidence in felony cases in which the district attorney has determined that no suspect has been identified or prosecution has not been pursued for at least five (5) years;

 

(iv) Soiled, defective, broken or demolished personal property, or waste.

 

(q) Items of found property with a value of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for which the owner cannot be located, or if the owner has not responded after contact was attempted by the law enforcement agency, may be disposed of after the latter of:

 

(i) Thirty (30) days after the agency has determined that the owner cannot be located; or

 

(ii) Thirty (30) days after the agency has attempted on at least three (3) nonconsecutive days to contact the owner without response from the owner.

 

(r) Law enforcement agencies shall preserve biological material that was seized or recovered as evidence in the investigation or prosecution that resulted in a conviction or adjudication as a delinquent for a crime of violence and not consumed in previous DNA testing. The biological material shall be preserved for five (5) years or, except as provided in this section, for as long as any person incarcerated in connection with the case or investigation remains in custody, whichever is longer. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this section, effective July 1, 2008 a law enforcement agency may dispose of the biological material after five (5) years if the law enforcement agency notifies any person who remains incarcerated in connection with the investigation or prosecution and any counsel of record for such person, or if there is no counsel of record, the state public defender, of the intention to dispose of the evidence and the law enforcement agency affords the person not less than one hundred eighty (180) days after the notification to file a motion for DNA testing or preservation of the biological material. The law enforcement agency shall not be required to preserve evidence that is required to be, and has been, returned to its rightful owner, or is of such a size, bulk or physical character as to render retention impracticable. If practicable, the law enforcement agency shall remove and preserve representative portions of the biological material sufficient to permit future DNA testing before returning or disposing of the material.

 

(s) Whoever willfully or maliciously destroys, alters, conceals or tampers with evidence that is required to be preserved under subsection (r) of this section with the intent to impair the integrity of that evidence, to prevent that evidence from being subjected to DNA testing or to prevent the production or use of that evidence in an official proceeding shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.

 

7-2-106. Extraterritorial authority of peace officers; requests for assignment of peace officers; liability; compensation.

 

(a) Subject to the limitations in subsection (e) of this section, a peace officer, while outside of his jurisdiction, shall have the same authority that applies to him within his jurisdiction to the same degree and extent only when any one (1) of the following conditions exists:

 

(i) The peace officer is responding to a request for law enforcement assistance made by a law enforcement agency of another jurisdiction or a specific request to assist another peace officer acting within the scope of his official duties in another jurisdiction;

 

(ii) The peace officer possesses reasonable cause to believe that a crime is occurring involving an immediate threat of serious bodily injury or death to any person; or

 

(iii) The peace officer is in fresh pursuit of a person whom the officer has probable cause to believe has committed within the officer's jurisdiction a violation of a municipal ordinance or state statute, including traffic infractions, or for whom an arrest warrant is outstanding for any criminal or traffic offense.

 

(b) Subject to the limitations in subsection (e) of this section, the governing body of any municipality that does not have a police department, the chief of police of any municipality or his designee, or the sheriff of any county or his designee, in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the governing body of any municipality or county, may request the chief of police of any other municipality, or his designee, or the sheriff of any other county, or his designee, to assign certified peace officers under their respective command to perform law enforcement duties within the jurisdiction of the requesting chief of police or sheriff. Peace officers, while so assigned and performing duties, are subject to the direction and control of the requesting chief or sheriff and shall have full peace officer authority within the requesting agency's jurisdiction during the assignment. The assignments under this subsection shall be restricted to the terms of a written memorandum of understanding entered into in advance by each participating sheriff, chief of police or appropriate supervisor of another agency employing peace officers and by the governing bodies of their respective counties or municipalities. The memorandum of understanding shall, at minimum, specify:

 

(i) The length of term of the assignment, not to exceed one (1) month beyond the current term of office of any participating sheriff or chief of police;

 

(ii) The certified peace officers covered by the assignment;

 

(iii) A general description of the geographical boundaries of territory covered by the assignment;

 

(iv) The responsibilities of each participating county, municipality and law enforcement agency for costs and expenses related to the assignments, including the cost of all wages, salaries, benefits and damage to equipment belonging to an officer or his employer while acting under the provisions of this subsection.

 

(c) A peace officer acting pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section outside his own jurisdiction shall be deemed to be acting within the scope of his duties for purposes of the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act and the state self-insurance program, W.S. 1-41-101 through 1-41-111, or the local government self-insurance program, W.S. 1-42-201 through 1-42-206. All privileges and immunities from liability, and all pension, disability, worker's compensation and other benefits which normally apply to peace officers while they perform their duties in their own jurisdiction shall also apply to them when acting as provided in subsection (a) or (b) of this section. For purposes of W.S. 27-14-104, the requesting and assigning law enforcement agencies shall be a joint employer as defined under W.S. 27-14-102(a)(xix) and the designated peace officer shall be a joint employee as defined under W.S. 27-14-102(a)(xxi).

 

(d) The cost of salary and benefits accruing to a peace officer acting pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be borne by the individual peace officer's own employing agency. The cost of any damage to equipment belonging to the officer or his employer occurring while acting pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be borne by the requesting law enforcement agency.

 

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a peace officer:

 

(i) As defined in W.S. 7-2-101(a)(iv)(F), (H) or (J) to act pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section; or

 

(ii) As defined in W.S. 7-2-101(a)(iv)(E) or (G) to act pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) or (iii) or subsection (b) of this section.

 

7-2-107. Arrest or detention of persons with diplomatic immunities.

 

(a) This section applies to an individual who upon being stopped, detained or arrested by a peace officer for a violation of W.S. 6-2-106, a driving while under the influence offense or a moving violation pursuant to the motor vehicle laws of Wyoming or local ordinance, provides a driver's license issued by the United States department of state or otherwise claims immunities or privileges pursuant to title 22, chapter 6 of the United States Code.

 

(b) If a driver as described in subsection (a) of this section is stopped, detained or arrested by a peace officer who has probable cause to believe that the driver has committed a violation described in subsection (a) of this section, the peace officer shall:

 

(i) Within a reasonable amount of time, contact the United States department of state and verify the driver's status and possible immunity;

 

(ii) Record relevant information from the driver's license or identification card issued by the United States department of state; and

 

(iii) Within five (5) days after the date of the stop, forward the following to the United States department of state:

 

(A) A written report of the incident; and

 

(B) A copy of the citation or other charging document if issued.

 

(c) The provisions of this section do not prohibit the application of any law to a criminal violation by any individual who claims immunities pursuant to title 22, chapter 6 of the United States Code.

 

7-2-108. Repealed By Laws 2007, Ch. 91, 3.