The commissioner of public safety and the state police shall be peace officers and shall have the same powers with respect to criminal matters and the enforcement of the law relating thereto as sheriffs, constables, and local police have in their respective jurisdictions, and shall have all the immunities and matters of defense now available or hereafter made available to sheriffs, constables and local police in a suit brought against them in consequence of acts done in the course of their employment. State police shall be informing or complaining officers with the same powers possessed by sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables or police officers of a city or incorporated village as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 5507. (Amended 1959, No. 39.)