PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

S.B. 470

Section 53(c)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1991 Replacement Volume and 1994 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 87 - Sheriffs

49.

Members of fire companies to be designated as hereinafter provided, whether the
companies to which they belong are volunteer or paid, incorporated or unincorporated,
shall be authorized to be appointed deputy sheriffs by the sheriffs of the several counties
to have and exercise the powers of such deputies at fires and on the way to and from fires.

50.

Three members of every such fire company as is described in § 49 may be designated
by the captain, chief or other commanding officer of the fire company to which they
belong to be appointed deputy sheriffs of the several counties, respectively, to have and
exercise the powers of such deputies at fires and on the way to and from fires; and the
said captain, chief or other commanding officer may designate himself as one of the three
members to be so appointed.

51.

(a)     It shall be the duty of the sheriffs of the several counties to appoint three
members of each fire company who shall be designated as provided in § 50 of this article,
deputy sheriffs, upon request of said members accompanied by a written certificate of
designation signed by the captain, chief or other commanding officer of the fire company
to which they belong, to have and exercise the powers of such deputies within the counties
for which they are appointed at fires and on the way to and from fires; and when so
appointed, the said members of fire companies shall have the aforesaid powers; provided,
that the power conferred upon any such member of a fire company shall cease if such
member ceases to be a member of the fire company for which he was appointed; and
provided further, that any member of a fire company appointed a deputy sheriff under the
provisions of this subtitle may be removed from such office by the sheriff at any time for
just cause.

(b)     In Washington County, the powers of the deputy sheriffs appointed under this
section are those necessary to perform their duties when acting as deputies going to,
functioning at, or coming from:

(1)     Fires;

(2)     Accidents;

(3)     Floods;

(4)     Other emergencies; or

(5)     Other functions conducted by a volunteer fire company.

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