What offense is described by knowingly making a false statement material to a criminal investigation to a peace officer?

The offense being described is the act of knowingly making a false statement that is material to a criminal investigation when speaking to a peace officer. This particular behavior falls under the category of providing a false report to a peace officer. Such an action undermines the integrity of the criminal investigation process and can lead to serious legal consequences. The emphasis is on the knowledge that the statement is false and that it pertains to a criminal investigation, which directly aligns with the definition of making a false report.

Perjury, on the other hand, specifically involves making false statements while under oath, such as in a court setting, and does not apply in this context since the statement is not made under oath to a judicial authority. Tampering with a governmental record relates to altering or falsifying official documents rather than providing false verbal information. Impersonating a public servant involves falsely assuming the identity of an official and does not specifically address the act of making false statements during a criminal investigation. Therefore, the clear alignment of knowingly providing false information to a peace officer categorizes this behavior as making a false report.