SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                      1023

(e)  "Law enforcement agency" means any law enforcement agency
of any department, county or municipality of the State, including
sheriffs, and unless otherwise limited also includes similar agencies
of other states and the United States of America.

(f)  "Merit System" means the Merit System Law as established
and administered pursuant to Article 64A of this Code, and includes
all provisions of said Article.

(g)  "Motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle as defined in Article
66½ of this Code.

(h) "Rank" means the status of one or more police employees
having the same relative position in the chain of command estab-
lished by rule. "Grade" means the status of one or more police em-
ployees having the same primary areas of duty and responsibility
within a rank.

(i) "Rule" means any rule, regulation, order or other directive
adopted by the Superintendent pursuant to this Article. A rule is
not for any purpose a rule within the meaning of the Administrative
Procedure Act or Article 41, Section 9, of this Code.

Law Enforcement Duties
8. Duties of Department.

The Department shall have the general duty to safeguard the lives
and safety of all persons within the State, to protect property, and
to assist in securing to all persons the equal protection of the laws.
Specifically, this duty includes the responsibilities: to preserve the
public peace; to detect and prevent the commission of crime; to en-
force the laws and ordinances of the State and local subdivisions; to
apprehend and arrest criminals and those who violate or are law-
fully accused of violating such laws and ordinances; to preserve
order at public places; to maintain the safe and orderly flow of
traffic on public streets and highways; to cooperate with and assist
law enforcement agencies in carrying out their respective duties;
and to discharge its duties and responsibilities with the dignity and
manner which will inspire public confidence and respect.

4. Powers of police employees.

(a)  Generally. The Superintendent, the Deputy Superintendent,
and employees designated by the Superintendent as police employees
shall have throughout the State the same powers, privileges, immuni-
ties, and defenses as sheriffs, constables, police officers, and other
peace officers possessed at common law and may now or hereafter
exercise within their respective jurisdictions. Any warrant of arrest
may be executed by a police employee in any part of the State with-
out further endorsement.

(b)  In incorporated municipalities. Police employees shall not
act within the limits of any incorporated municipality which main-
tains a police force except (1) when in pursuit of an offender or
suspected offender; (2) when in search of an offender or suspected
offender wanted for a crime committed outside of the limits of the
municipality, or when interviewing or seeking to interview a witness
or supposed witness to such a crime; (3) when requested to act by
the chief executive officer or the chief police officer of the munici-