§ 3019. Disarming a law enforcement officer

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Firearm” means any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, that will expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, and includes any weapon commonly referred to as a pistol, revolver, rifle, gun, machine gun, or shotgun.

(2) “Law enforcement officer” means:

(A) a person certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council as having satisfactorily completed the approved training programs required to meet the minimum training standards applicable to that person pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2358;

(B) a constable who has not been prohibited from exercising law enforcement authority under 24 V.S.A. § 1936a and who has been certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council as having successfully completed a course of training pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2358; or

(C) a person certified as a member of the Capitol Police under 2 V.S.A. § 70.

(b) A person is guilty of disarming a law enforcement officer if:

(1) the person knowingly:

(A) removes a firearm from the person of a law enforcement officer; or

(B) deprives a law enforcement officer of the use of a firearm; and

(2) the officer is acting within the lawful scope of the officer’s duties; and

(3) the person has reasonable cause to know or knows the individual is a law enforcement officer.

(c) A person who is convicted of a violation of this section shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both. (Added 1999, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)