(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Peace officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation or township constable who is employed by a political subdivision of this State, a State university law enforcement officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 3345.04 or a State highway patrolman and whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property and to enforce the laws, ordinances or regulations of the State or any of its political subdivisions.
(2) "Private policeman" means any security guard, special policeman, private detective or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity.
(3) "Impersonate" means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons.
(b) No person shall impersonate a peace officer or a private policeman.
(c) No person, by impersonating a peace officer or a private policeman, shall arrest or detain any person, search any person or search the property of any person.
(d) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, a private policeman or an officer, agent or employee of the State or the Municipality.
(e) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (b) hereof that the impersonation of the peace officer was for a lawful purpose.
(f) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates subsections (c) or (d) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, provided that the purpose of a violation of subsection (d) hereof is not to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony.
(ORC 2921.51)