§7-14-2. Definitions; population.

(a) For the purpose of this article:

(1) "Appointing officer" or "appointing sheriff" shall mean the sheriff of the county in which the appointment of a deputy sheriff shall be made pursuant to this article; and

(2) "Deputy sheriffs" or "deputies" shall mean persons appointed by a sheriff as his deputies whose primary duties as such deputies are within the scope of active, general law enforcement and as such are authorized to carry deadly weapons, patrol the highways, perform police functions, make arrests or safeguard prisoners. This definition shall not be construed to include any person or persons whose sole duties shall be the service of civil process and subpoenas as provided in section fourteen, article one, chapter fifty of this code, but such exclusion shall not preclude the service of civil process or subpoenas by deputy sheriffs covered by the provisions of this article.

(b) For the purpose of this article, population shall be determined by reference to the last preceding census taken under the authority of the United States or of the Legislature of West Virginia.