15.2-1607 - Providing legal fees and expenses for sheriffs and deputies.
§ 15.2-1607. Providing legal fees and expenses for sheriffs and deputies.
If any sheriff or deputy sheriff is arrested or indicted or otherwiseprosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge ofhis official duties, and such charge is subsequently dismissed or there isrendered a verdict of not guilty, such sheriff or deputy sheriff may submitto the governing body of the locality in which he was elected or appointed astatement of legal fees and expenses incurred in his defense of such charge.The governing body may authorize that such legal fees and expenses, or anyportion thereof, be paid from the treasury of such locality. If the affectedsheriff or deputy sheriff disagrees with the action of the governing body,the officer may petition the circuit court for the county or city to awardthe fees and cost. The circuit court, sitting without a jury, shall hold ahearing on the matter. The court for good cause shown may order the governingbody to pay all or any appropriate portion of the fees and cost.
(1975, c. 30, § 15.1-66.3; 1983, c. 232; 1997, c. 587.)