The words “sheriff’s employees” , as used in this article, shall mean and include court attendants and all other persons appointed by the sheriffs of the counties of the first and second classes of this state, for the detection, apprehension, service and arrest of offenders against the law, and any other employees of the sheriffs of the counties of the first and second classes, aforesaid, who may be subject to call by the said sheriffs for any of the hazardous duties incident to the preservation of the peace, the quelling of riots or disturbances, or the protection of property rights; provided, however, that nothing in this article contained shall be construed as applying to any class of employees, except those who are now or who may hereafter be in the classified class of the civil service of this state.