To provide Sheriffs across the State of West Virginia the authority and discretion to appoint a qualified person to the position of Deputy Chief

HB 2685 would allow West Virginia county sheriffs to optionally appoint a Deputy Chief to their departments, provided the department has at least 25 sworn deputy sheriffs. The position would operate under the Chief Deputy but serve as an administrative augmentation, with sheriffs retaining full discretion to use or decline the role. The bill specifies that Deputy Chiefs would follow the same legal and operational rules as Chief Deputies, including state statutes and the federal Hatch Act. This change applies only to departments meeting the 25-deputy threshold and does not require sheriffs to create the position.