# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 8: County police; appointment; badge; powers

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S8

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 8
- **Heading:** County police; appointment; badge; powers
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part I / Title XX / Chapter 147 / Section 8

## Text

Section 8. County commissioners may appoint as police officers persons who are in the employment of the county, who shall, when on duty, wear in plain sight a metallic badge inscribed with the words ''County Police'' and the name of the county for which they are appointed. Such officers may preserve order in any court house or in any room or building used for county business and upon the adjoining premises. They may, without a warrant, arrest idle or disorderly persons who by their presence or conduct obstruct or annoy persons using county buildings or premises, or who violate section ninety-seven of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, and may take persons so arrested to the nearest police station or other place of lawful detention.

Section 8. County commissioners may appoint as police officers persons who are in the employment of the county, who shall, when on duty, wear in plain sight a metallic badge inscribed with the words ''County Police'' and the name of the county for which they are appointed. Such officers may preserve order in any court house or in any room or building used for county business and upon the adjoining premises. They may, without a warrant, arrest idle or disorderly persons who by their presence or conduct obstruct or annoy persons using county buildings or premises, or who violate section ninety-seven of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, and may take persons so arrested to the nearest police station or other place of lawful detention.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 1 Definitions and duties of commissioner and division of occupational licensure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 2 Inspectors; powers and duties; appointment as special state police](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 3 Rewards or gifts for services; failure to perform duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 8 County police; appointment; badge; powers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 8A Carrying police weapons and equipment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S8A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 10F Parking control officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S10F.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 11 Cities authorized to establish police force; appointments to force](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S11.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 12 Number of members](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S12.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 13 Assignment to duty; powers and duties; compensation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S13.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 13A Towns authorized to establish reserve police force; number; appointments; removal; regulations; powers and duties; compensation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S13A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 13B Reserve police forces in cities; appointments from civil service eligible list](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S13B.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 13C Reserve police forces in towns; appointments from civil service eligible list](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S13C.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 14 Days off for police; one day out of thirty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S14.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 147, sec. 15 Days off for police; one day out of fifteen](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S15.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXX_C147_S8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.