18-3-602. Qualifications, appointment, duties and salary of undersheriff; deputies, reserve deputies, clerks, stenographers and assistants; appointment of deputies for special acts; appointment of deputies by county commissioners.

(a) Each county sheriff may appoint an undersheriff who shall be a bona fide resident of the county, qualify as required by law for deputy sheriff and serve as sheriff in case of death, resignation or other disability of the sheriff until the board of county commissioners fill the vacancy. The person appointed shall qualify in accordance with law and may receive an annual salary fixed by the board of county commissioners at not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the annual salary of the sheriff in their respective counties.

(b) With the consent of the board of county commissioners each county sheriff may appoint one (1) or more full-time deputies who may receive an annual salary fixed by the board of county commissioners at not less than twenty percent (20%) of the sheriff's salary. The sheriff may also appoint other assistants as necessary to properly administer the affairs of the office.

(c) In addition to the authority granted under W.S. 7-2-106, each county sheriff may also appoint special deputies to perform particular acts, which shall be specified in each appointment and for whose official acts he is responsible. Such appointments are not required to be filed or revoked as in the case of regular deputies. No county assessor shall be appointed deputy sheriff.

(d) In addition to the authority granted under W.S. 7-2-106, each county sheriff may employ temporary deputies and assistants authorized by the board of county commissioners. The compensation of these deputies and assistants shall be fixed by the board of county commissioners.

(e) In addition to the authority granted under W.S. 7-2-106, each board of county commissioners, when extraordinary or unusual danger to life or property is in progress or is threatened and the regular county officers cannot maintain proper order, may appoint special deputy sheriffs only for the duration of the extraordinary or unusual danger. Each special deputy sheriff shall be:

(i) An elector of the county and shall take an oath to faithfully discharge the duties of the office;

(ii) Subject to the orders of the county sheriff who is responsible for their acts, unless otherwise ordered by the board of county commissioners; and

(iii) Compensated at a rate established by the board of county commissioners.

(f) Each county sheriff may appoint reserve deputy sheriffs to assist the sheriff as necessary to properly administer the affairs of the office. A reserve deputy sheriff acting less than full-time in the service of the county shall have peace officer authority, provided the reserve deputy sheriff has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707. The compensation for deputy reserve sheriffs shall be fixed by the board of county commissioners.