If an off-duty officer observes a crime in a county different from their assignment and they choose to arrest, how does their status affect the action?

• A. No, off-duty officers cannot arrest in another county
• B. Yes, they can arrest; status does not matter; they would be acting as private citizen
• C. Yes, but only if they are in uniform
• D. They may only detain, not arrest

Answer: (B)

Off-duty officers don’t lose their arrest authority when they’re outside their assigned county. If they observe a crime in progress, they can arrest the suspect across county lines just as they would in their home jurisdiction. Their status as off-duty doesn’t bar that action; in this situation they’re exercising their law-enforcement authority, which the exam treats as equivalent to acting as a private citizen in order to proceed with the arrest. In practice, they’d identify themselves, ensure safety, and coordinate with the local agency for processing.