Interference with an Officer Law & Legal Definition

Many states have statutes dealing with interfering with the duties of various types of officials, such as police officers, fire fighters, animal wardens, and others. Such statutes vary by state, but may require the defendant acted either intentionally, knowingly or recklessly. For example, such statutes may apply when a defendant knowingly obstructs, impedes or interferes with or resists arrest by a peace officer.

The following is an example of a state statute governing interfering with officers:

" Every person who, at any fire:

1. Disobeys the lawful order of any peace officer or fireman, or a member of a search and rescue organization who is under the direction of the sheriff;
2. Resists or interferes with any lawful effort to extinguish the fire; or
3. Engages in any conduct likely to interfere with the extinguishment of the fire, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Every person who, at the scene of an emergency, other than a fire, disobeys any of the lawful orders of a peace officer or fireman, or a member of a search and rescue organization who is under the direction of the sheriff, or resists or interferes with the lawful efforts of any firemen or company of firemen, or members of a search and rescue organization who are under the direction of the sheriff, to control or handle the emergency, or conducts himself in a disorderly manner likely to interfere with the control or handling thereof, or who forbids, prevents or dissuades others from assisting to control or handle the emergency, is guilty of a misdemeanor."