New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 120.18 — Menacing a police officer or peace officer
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 120: Assault and Related Offenses, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 120.18
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
120.18 Menacing a police officer or peace officer.
A person is guilty of menacing a police officer or peace officer when
he or she intentionally places or attempts to place a police officer or
peace officer in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical
injury or death by displaying a deadly weapon, knife, pistol, revolver,
rifle, shotgun, machine gun or other firearm, whether operable or not,
where such officer was in the course of performing his or her official
duties and the defendant knew or reasonably should have known that such
victim was a police officer or peace officer.
Menacing a police officer or peace officer is a class D felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of felony is menacing a police officer or peace officer in New York?
Menacing a police officer or peace officer is a Class D Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 120.18.
Which New York statute covers menacing a police officer or peace officer?
Menacing a police officer or peace officer is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 120.18 (Menacing a police officer or peace officer).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.