(a) (1) This section applies only to Allegany County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Dorchester County, Frederick County, Harford County, Kent County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County.
(2) Except as modified by this section, the provisions of § 7–302 of this subtitle apply to this section.
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the commanding officer may designate 12 members of a fire company to be appointed as deputy sheriffs.
(2) In Harford County, the commanding officer may designate 20 members of a fire company to be appointed as deputy sheriffs.
(c) (1) The sheriff of a county subject to this section may require a member of a fire company appointed as deputy sheriff to demonstrate a satisfactory level of training in those areas of law enforcement commensurate with the duties of deputy sheriff described in this section.
(2) If the sheriff requires demonstration of a satisfactory level of training, then the sheriff must provide the training, at a time and place that the sheriff considers suitable.
(d) (1) The powers of members of fire companies appointed as deputy sheriffs under this section are limited to those necessary to perform the duties of deputy sheriffs while functioning at:
(i) parades;
(ii) accidents;
(iii) floods;
(iv) other emergencies; or
(v) public events conducted by or under the auspices of a fire company or the sheriff’s department.
(2) The powers authorized under this subsection may be exercised:
(i) in a municipal corporation, subject to the discretion and control of the chief of the police force of the municipal corporation;
(ii) in other areas of the county; and
(iii) on State roads, subject to the discretion and control of the Department of State Police.
(3) A member appointed as deputy sheriff is deemed to be performing the duties of deputy sheriff when on duty and wearing a badge of authority.
(4) A member appointed as deputy sheriff may not use a weapon in the performance of duties authorized under this subsection.
(5) In Allegany County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Harford County, and Talbot County, a member appointed as deputy sheriff may also perform traffic control for public functions held by a municipal corporation, group, or committee on request for and approval of the services by the sheriff.
(e) (1) (i) A member appointed as deputy sheriff performing the duties of deputy sheriff in an emergency situation to which a fire company or ambulance company has been dispatched by the Allegany County Emergency Management Center in Allegany County, the Frederick County Central Alarm Board in Frederick County, or the Carroll County Emergency Operations Center in Carroll County, is subject to the authority of the commanding officer of that fire company or ambulance company.
(ii) If a member appointed as deputy sheriff is not a member in good standing of the fire company or ambulance company that has been dispatched, then the member may not perform the duties described in this section.
(2) A member appointed as deputy sheriff performing the duties of deputy sheriff at a public event conducted by or under the auspices of a fire company or ambulance company is subject to the authority of the commanding officer of that fire company or ambulance company.