§7-7-23. Awarding service pistol upon retirement.

(a) Upon the retirement of a deputy from the sheriff's department, the county commission shall authorize the sheriff to award to the retiring deputy his or her service pistol upon determining:

(1) That the retiring deputy is retiring honorably with at least twenty years of service; or

(2) The retiring deputy is retiring with less than twenty years of service based upon a determination that the deputy is totally physically disabled.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a sheriff shall not award his or her service pistol to any retiring deputy medically determined to be mentally incapacitated or to constitute a danger to self or others.