Assault or Battery on Law Enforcement or Protected Personnel
Arrest exception may applyAssault, battery, aggravated assault, or aggravated battery against law enforcement or another specified protected person engaged in official duties.
Florida Statute
§ 784.07
Assault or battery of law enforcement officers and other specified personnel
Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: September 13, 2026
Warrantless Arrest Authority
Conditional authority—not a blanket exception for every charge on this page. PC means probable cause. Establish probable cause and the applicable facts; open the entry for complete requirements. Arrest authority alone does not authorize entry into a home.
Assault on specified persons / receiving-facility staff
Required facts
- Probable cause for assault upon a specified person under §784.07, with the applicable status and duty requirements; OR
- Probable cause for assault OR battery upon a receiving-facility employee engaged in lawful duties.
Limits & qualifications
- Confirm protected status and the offense-specific duty requirements; not every assault qualifies.
Authority
Quick Summary
Use the matrix to apply the correct reclassification to the underlying offense and any applicable minimum sentence.
Classification Matrix
Use this as a quick classification reference. Specific facts, statutory circumstances, and charging allegations may affect the applicable result.
Assault on Protected Personnel
F.S. § 784.07(2)(a)
Underlying assault against protected personnel engaged in official duties.
Battery on Protected Personnel
F.S. § 784.07(2)(b)
Underlying battery against protected personnel engaged in official duties.
Aggravated Assault on Protected Personnel
F.S. § 784.07(2)(c)
Underlying aggravated assault against protected personnel engaged in official duties.
Elements of the Offense
Elements of the Offense
Elements marked AND are cumulative. Elements marked OR identify statutory alternatives; one applicable alternative must be established when that theory is charged. Conditional elements apply only to the identified statutory track.
- Element 1AND — Required
Required Facts
The defendant knowingly committed the charged underlying assault, battery, aggravated assault, or aggravated battery against a person listed in section 784.07.
Plain language: First establish the underlying offense and the protected person's qualifying status.
- Element 2AND — Required
Required Facts
The victim held a position protected by section 784.07 and was engaged in performing official duties when the offense occurred.
Plain language: Confirm the precise protected category and duty status.
- Element 3AND — Required
Required Facts
The defendant knew the victim was protected personnel within the charged statutory category.
Plain language: Document uniforms, identification, statements, prior contact, or other facts proving knowledge.
Jury Instructions
Jury Instructions
Instruction 8.10
Assault on Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter, Etc.
Use for the section 784.07(2)(a) assault reclassification; select the applicable protected-person category.
View Official InstructionVerified against the official instruction source: September 13, 2026
Instruction 8.11
Battery on Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter, Etc.
Use for the section 784.07(2)(b) battery reclassification; select the applicable protected-person category.
View Official InstructionVerified against the official instruction source: September 13, 2026
Instruction 8.12
Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter, Etc.
Use for the section 784.07(2)(c) aggravated-assault reclassification.
View Official InstructionAdditional Notes
Additional Notes
Quick Reference
This page is the protected-personnel enhancement guide. Confirm the qualifying status, official-duty status, underlying offense, and the defendant's knowledge before selecting the matrix row.