(1) BOND, SURETIES, PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES.—

(a) Each deputy sheriff who is appointed shall give bond as required by the board of county commissioners. The amount of the bond and the bond must be approved by the board of county commissioners. The bond must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court and be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of his or her office. A deputy sheriff may not perform any services as deputy until he or she subscribes to the oath prescribed for sheriffs. Sureties are liable for all fines and amercements imposed upon their principal.

(b) The board of county commissioners of any county may accept a blanket surety bond issued by a solvent surety company authorized to do business in this state, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the deputy sheriffs appointed by a sheriff, in a sum to be fixed by the board of county commissioners. If such a blanket surety bond is accepted, individual surety bonds for each deputy sheriff are not necessary. The cost of the blanket bond must be paid by the appropriate sheriff’s department. Sureties are liable for all fines and amercements imposed upon their principals under the provisions of the blanket bond.

(2) SURETY COMPANIES.—The requisite of two sureties and justification of same does not apply when surety is by a solvent surety company authorized to do business in this state.

(3) LIABILITY OF SHERIFF.—The giving of such bond by a deputy does not relieve the sheriff of the liability for the acts of his or her deputies.

(4) EXCEPTIONS.—This section does not apply to the appointment of special deputy sheriffs appointed by the sheriff:

(a) To attend elections on election days.

(b) To perform undercover investigative work.

(c) For specific guard or police duties in connection with public sporting or entertainment events, not to exceed 30 days; or for watch or guard duties, when serving in such capacity at specified locations or areas only.

(d) For special and temporary duties, without power of arrest, in connection with guarding or transporting prisoners.

(e) To aid in preserving law and order, or to give necessary assistance in the event of any threatened or actual hurricane, fire, flood, or other natural disaster, or in the event of any major tragedy such as an act of local terrorism or a national terrorism alert, an airplane crash, a train or automobile wreck, or a similar accident.

(f) To raise the power of the county, by calling bystanders or others, to assist in quelling a riot or any breach of the peace, when ordered by the sheriff or an authorized general deputy.

(g) To serve as a parking enforcement specialist pursuant to s. 316.640(2).

The appointment of a special deputy sheriff in any such circumstance, except with respect to paragraph (g), may be made with full powers of arrest when the sheriff considers such appointment reasonable and necessary in the execution of the duties of his or her office. Except under circumstances described in paragraphs (a), (e), (f), and (g), the appointees must possess at least the minimum requirements established for law enforcement officers by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. The appointment of any such special deputy sheriff must be recorded in a register maintained for such purpose in the sheriff’s office, showing the terms and circumstances of such appointment.

(5) REMOVAL FOR VIOLATION.—A violation of this section subjects the offender to removal by the Governor.

History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, ch. 6478, 1913; RGS 2883; CGL 4580; s. 2, ch. 22790, 1945; s. 1, ch. 57-93; s. 1, ch. 72-307; s. 1, ch. 75-100; s. 1, ch. 79-246; s. 14, ch. 79-400; s. 3, ch. 83-167; s. 5, ch. 87-224; s. 175, ch. 95-147; s. 13, ch. 98-34; s. 1, ch. 2002-193.