“Local safety officer” means any officer or employee of a public safety department of a contracting agency, except one whose principal duties are those of a telephone operator, clerk, stenographer, machinist, mechanic, or otherwise and whose functions do not clearly fall within the scope of active law enforcement or firefighting and prevention service even though the employee is subject to occasional call, or is occasionally called upon, to perform duties within the scope of active law enforcement or firefighting and prevention service, but not excepting persons

employed and qualifying as patrol officers or equal or higher rank, or as firefighters, hose officers, or equal or higher rank, irrespective of the duties to which they are assigned.

“Local safety officer” does not include persons employed to perform identification or communication duties. This paragraph shall not apply to persons employed and qualified as patrol officers or equal or higher rank, or as firefighters, hose officers, or equal or higher rank.