What type of misdemeanors can an employee investigate while on duty?

An employee is authorized to investigate Class C misdemeanors when they observe them happening in their presence. This type of misdemeanor typically involves minor offenses, such as petty theft, disorderly conduct, or certain traffic violations. The law generally enables peace officers to take action when they witness these lower-level offenses directly, thereby allowing for immediate intervention and enforcement of the law.

This focus on the presence of the officer is significant because it emphasizes the principle of immediate response to violations that do not typically warrant more serious criminal charges. Class A and B misdemeanors generally involve higher penalties and more severe offenses, which often require additional procedural steps for investigation and enforcement beyond simple observation. Consequently, while officers are trained to handle all types of misdemeanors, their direct investigative authority while on duty for misdemeanors is restricted to those they witness firsthand.