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<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="7-304" title_number="7" title_name="Fire, Rescue, or Emergency Medical Services Entities" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Members of Fire Companies Appointed as Deputy Sheriffs">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “fire and ambulance company” means a volunteer, career, incorporated, or unincorporated fire or ambulance company.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section applies only to Cecil County and Washington County.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>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.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A written certificate of designation signed by the commanding officer shall accompany each request for appointment under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>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.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>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.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The powers of individuals serving as fire police are limited to traffic control and scene safety while functioning at:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>parades;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>accidents;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>fires;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>floods;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>other emergencies; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>public events conducted by a fire or ambulance company or the Sheriff’s department.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The powers authorized under this subsection may be exercised:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>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</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>in other areas of the county.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The sheriff of a county may remove a member appointed as fire police at any time.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>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.</text>
  </level>
</section>
