Indiana § 36-8-10-10.6 Special deputies with powers of law enforcement officer; appointment;
qualifications; duties

Indiana Statutes

§ 36-8-10-10.6 — Special deputies with powers of law enforcement officer; appointment; qualifications; duties

Indiana § 36-8-10-10.6

Title 36LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Art. 8PUBLIC SAFETY

Ch. 10Sheriff's Department; Merit Board; Pensions

This text of Indiana § 36-8-10-10.6 (Special deputies with powers of law enforcement officer; appointment; qualifications; duties) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ind. Code § 36-8-10-10.6 (2026).

Text

6.

(a)The sheriff may appoint as a special deputy any person who is employed by a governmental entity as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-144 or private employer, the nature of which employment necessitates that the person have the powers of a law enforcement officer. During the term of the special deputy's appointment and while the special deputy is fulfilling the specific responsibilities for which the appointment is made, a special deputy has the powers, privileges, and duties of a county police officer under this chapter, subject to any written limitations and specific requirements imposed by the sheriff and signed by the special deputy. A special deputy is subject to the direction of the sheriff and shall obey the rules and orders of the department. A special deputy may be removed by the sher

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6. (a) The sheriff may appoint as a special
deputy any person who is employed by a governmental entity as
defined in IC 35-31.5-2-144 or private employer, the nature of which
employment necessitates that the person have the powers of a law
enforcement officer. During the term of the special deputy's
appointment and while the special deputy is fulfilling the specific
responsibilities for which the appointment is made, a special deputy
has the powers, privileges, and duties of a county police officer under
this chapter, subject to any written limitations and specific
requirements imposed by the sheriff and signed by the special deputy.
A special deputy is subject to the direction of the sheriff and shall obey
the rules and orders of the department. A special deputy may be
removed by the sheriff at any time, without notice and without
assigning any cause.
(b) The sheriff shall fix the prerequisites of training, education, and
experience for special deputies, subject to the minimum requirements
prescribed by this subsection. Applicants must:
(1) be twenty-one (21) years of age or older;
(2) never have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude;
(3) be of good moral character; and
(4) have sufficient training to insure the proper performance of
their authorized duties.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), a special deputy shall wear
a uniform the design and color of which is easily distinguishable from
the uniforms of the Indiana state police, the regular county police force,
and all municipal police and fire forces located in the county.
(d) The sheriff may permit a special deputy to wear the uniform of
the regular county police force if the special deputy:
(1) has successfully completed the minimum basic training
requirements under IC 5-2-1;
(2) is periodically assigned by the sheriff to duties of a regular
county police officer; and
(3) is an employee of the department.
The sheriff may revoke permission for the special deputy to wear the
uniform of the regular county police force at any time without cause or
notice.
(e) The sheriff may also appoint one (1) legal deputy, who must be
a member of the Indiana bar. The legal deputy does not have police
powers. The legal deputy may continue to practice law. However,
neither the legal deputy nor any attorney in partnership with the legal
deputy may represent a defendant in a criminal case.
(f) The sheriff, for the purpose of guarding prisoners in the county
jail:
(1) in counties not having a consolidated city, may appoint special
deputies to serve as county jail guards; and
(2) in counties having a consolidated city, shall appoint only
special deputies to serve as county jail guards.
This subsection does not affect the rights or liabilities accrued by any
county police officer assigned to guard the jail before August 31, 1982.