Pennsylvania Statutes Title 16 P.S. Counties § 4221.11. Reduction in number of deputy sheriffs; reinstatements

If for reasons of economy or otherwise, it shall be deemed necessary by the sheriff of the county to reduce the number of deputy sheriffs then such reduction in numbers shall be made in the following manner: (i) if there are any deputy sheriffs eligible for retirement under the terms of any retirement or pension system or law, then such reduction in numbers shall be made by retirement, if the party to be retired has served in the force of deputy sheriffs for a period of at least twenty-five years and his age exceeds the maximum age as defined in the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L. 744, No. 222),  1 known as the “Pennsylvania Human Relations Act”, (ii) if the number of deputy sheriffs eligible for retirement is insufficient to effect the reduction in numbers decided upon by the sheriff of the county, or if no retirement or pension system or law exists, or if there are no deputy sheriffs eligible for retirement or pension, then the reduction shall be made by furloughing the last deputy sheriff including the probationers that have been appointed to the force and continue in numerical order until the reduction decided upon by the sheriff of the county has been affected. In any case where there has been more than one employe appointed at the same time then such furloughing shall be determined by the alphabetical order of the first letter of their surname. In the event the said force of deputy sheriffs shall again be increased in numbers then the employes furloughed shall be reinstated in the inverse order of that in which they were furloughed before any new appointments shall be made to the deputy sheriffs' force.