The sheriff of any county in Illinois may, with the advice and consent of the county board appoint auxiliary deputies in such number as the county board shall from time to time deem necessary. However, such number of appointed auxiliary deputies shall not increase after January 1, 1982 if vacancies exist within the certified ranks of the department. Such auxiliary deputies shall not be regular appointed deputies pursuant to Section 3-6008, nor shall they be members of a county police department established pursuant to Divisions 3-7 and 3-8.
55 ILCS 5/3-6012