(a) The sheriff may appoint as many special deputies as the sheriff may think proper, on urgent occasions, or when required for particular purposes.(b) The sheriff may appoint as many private special deputies as qualify for appointment pursuant to § 38-8-118.(c)(1) The sheriff is also authorized to enter into agreements with other law enforcement agencies, including, but not limited to, other county sheriff departments, for the exchange of law enforcement officers when required for a particular purpose. Such exchanged officers shall be covered by liability insurance by the agency of their regular employment or by the agency to which such officers are being assigned. Responding officers under such agreements may be deputized by the requesting sheriff without making application to the court; provided, that such exchanged officers shall serve in such capacity only for the time necessary to complete the particular purpose for which the exchange was made.(2) The law enforcement officers exchanged under this subsection (c) shall not be deemed to be special deputies, and § 8-8-303 shall in no way be applicable to such law enforcement officers while serving in the capacity for the particular purpose for which the exchange was made.
