Powers and duties of department and its members.

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(a) All criminal laws; and

(b) All laws applicable to highways and the operation of vehicles on highways.

(2) Each member of the state police is authorized and empowered to:

(a) Prevent crime.

(b) Pursue and apprehend offenders and obtain legal evidence necessary to ensure the conviction of the offenders in the courts.

(c) Institute criminal proceedings.

(d) Execute any lawful warrant or order of arrest issued against any person or persons for any violation of the law.

(e) Make arrests without warrant for violations of law in the manner provided in ORS 133.310.

(f) Give first aid to the injured.

(3) Each member of the state police has the same general powers and authority as those conferred by law upon sheriffs, police officers, constables and peace officers. A member of the state police may be appointed as a medical-legal death investigator.

(4) The members of the state police are subject to the call of the Governor and are empowered to cooperate with any other instrumentality or authority of this state, or any political subdivision, in detecting crime, apprehending criminals and preserving law and order throughout this state, but the state police may not be used as a posse except when ordered by the Governor. [Formerly 181.030; 2017 c.151 §23]


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