# Public Safety (GPS)

## Title 7. Fire, Rescue, or Emergency Medical Services Entities

### Subtitle 3. Members of Fire Companies Appointed as Deputy Sheriffs

#### Section 7-301

In this subtitle, "commanding officer" means the captain, chief, or other officer in charge of a fire company or ambulance company.

#### Section 7-302

(a) This section applies only to Baltimore County, Dorchester County, and Queen Anne's County.

(b) The sheriff of a county subject to this section may appoint as deputy sheriffs members of fire companies, whether volunteer, career, incorporated, or unincorporated, to exercise the powers of deputy sheriffs at fires and while going to and from fires.

(c)

  (1) The commanding officer may designate three members of the fire company to be appointed as deputy sheriffs.

  (2) The commanding officer may be one of the three members designated under this subsection.

(d)

  (1) The sheriff of a county subject to this section shall appoint as deputy sheriff a member of the fire company designated under subsection (c) of this section on request of the designated member.

  (2) A request for appointment shall be accompanied by a written certificate of designation signed by the commanding officer.

(e)

  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a fire company appointed as deputy sheriff under this section may exercise the powers of deputy sheriffs at fires and while going to and from fires.

  (2) The powers of members appointed as deputy sheriffs do not apply and may not be exercised in a municipal corporation that maintains an organized police force.

(f)

  (1) The appointment of a member of a fire company as deputy sheriff terminates if the member ceases to be a member of the fire company.

  (2) The sheriff of a county subject to this section may remove a member appointed as deputy sheriff at any time for just cause.

  (3) If a member appointed as deputy sheriff dies, resigns, is dismissed, refuses to serve, or is unable to serve, the commanding officer may designate another member of the fire company to be appointed as deputy sheriff.

  (4) If the commanding officer designates another member of the fire company to be appointed as deputy sheriff, the sheriff of the county shall appoint that member as deputy sheriff, subject to subsections (d) and (e) of this section.

#### Section 7-303

(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 Sec. 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.

#### Section 7-304

(a) In this section, "fire and ambulance company" means a volunteer, career, incorporated, or unincorporated fire or ambulance company.

(b) This section applies only to Cecil County and Washington County.

(c)

  (1)

    (i) The commanding officer may designate to the sheriff of a county up to 20 individuals who are members of the commanding officer's fire or ambulance company to be appointed as fire police.

    (ii) A written certificate of designation signed by the commanding officer shall accompany each request for appointment under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

  (2)

    (i) The Sheriff of Washington County shall appoint individuals to serve as fire police in Washington County from those members designated by the commanding officer under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

    (ii) The Sheriff of Cecil County may appoint individuals to serve as fire police in Cecil County from those members designated by the commanding officer under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(d)

  (1) The powers of individuals serving as fire police are limited to traffic control and scene safety while functioning at:

    (i) parades;

    (ii) accidents;

    (iii) fires;

    (iv) floods;

    (v) other emergencies; or

    (vi) public events conducted by a fire or ambulance company or the Sheriff's department.

  (2) The powers authorized under this subsection may be exercised:

    (i) in a municipal corporation in the county, subject to the discretion and control of the chief of the police force of the municipal corporation; or

    (ii) in other areas of the county.

  (3) An individual appointed to serve as fire police in Washington County may not use a weapon in the performance of duties authorized under this subsection.

(e)

  (1) The appointment of a member of a fire or ambulance company as fire police terminates if the member ceases to be a member of the fire or ambulance company.

  (2) The sheriff of a county may remove a member appointed as fire police at any time.

  (3) If a member appointed to serve as fire police dies, resigns, is dismissed, refuses to serve, or is unable to serve, the commanding officer may designate another member of the fire or ambulance company to be appointed as fire police.

(f) An individual appointed to serve as fire police in Washington County under this section is deemed an appointed official and shall be treated as an appointed official for purposes of Title 22 and Title 23 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

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Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)