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Florida Criminal Offense

Depriving Officer of Means of Protection or Communication

Depriving an officer of, or rendering useless, a covered protective or communication item.

FelonyThird Degree

Florida Statute

§ 843.025

Depriving officer of means of protection or communication

View Official Florida Statute

Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: September 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The statute includes weapons, radios, digital recording devices, restraint devices, and other means of defense or summoning assistance.

Classification Matrix

Use this as a quick classification reference. Specific facts, statutory circumstances, and charging allegations may affect the applicable result.

Depriving Officer of Protection or Communication

F.S. § 843.025(2)

FelonyThird Degree

Covered conduct depriving an officer of, or rendering useless, a statutory protective or communication item.

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.

  1. Element 1
    AND — Required

    Required Facts

    The defendant deprived a covered officer of, or rendered useless, a weapon, radio, digital recording device, restraint device, or another means of defense or summoning assistance.

    Plain language: Identify the exact item or protective/communication function affected.

  2. Element 2
    AND — Required

    Required Facts

    The affected person was a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional probation officer described by the statute.

    Plain language: Establish the protected officer's qualifying status.

Jury Instructions

Instruction 21.13

Depriving an Officer of Means of Protection or Communication

Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, Instruction 21.13, for F.S. 843.025.

View Official Instruction

Verified against the official instruction source: September 13, 2026

Additional Notes

Important

Preserve evidence showing the item, how it was taken or disabled, and its officer-safety or communication function.