This bill proposes the addition of a new section, 7-14-13a, to the Code of West Virginia, 1931, which grants county sheriffs the authority to appoint a deputy chief within their departments. The bill outlines that the deputy chief will serve as an augmentation to the sheriff and chief deputy, fulfilling statutory requirements while also being subject to work assignments similar to those of sworn deputy sheriffs. The appointment of this position is discretionary, meaning sheriffs are not obligated to create it but may do so if deemed beneficial for their agency and the community.

To be eligible for appointing a deputy chief, a county sheriff's department must have at least 25 sworn deputy sheriffs on staff. The bill also stipulates that the deputy chief will operate under the same laws and regulations as the chief deputy, including adherence to state statutes and the federal Hatch Act. Overall, the purpose of this legislation is to formalize the role of deputy chief, establish its duties, and set the criteria for its appointment within county sheriff departments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-14-13a