Receipt of badge and service weapon upon retirement.

(a)(1) Employees of the Sheriff's Office of Mobile County who are classified as a deputy sheriff, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, or captain and who retire in good standing after at least 25 years of service with the sheriff's office shall be awarded the service weapon and badge that the sheriff's office requires for on duty law enforcement personnel at no cost to the retiring officer.

(2) Weapons awarded under this section shall be replaced in the county inventory by the Sheriff of Mobile County by purchasing new weapons of the same brand and caliber with funds from the Mobile County Sheriff's Office Pistol Permit Fund.

(b) It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Mobile County to ensure that the awards and purchase for the replacement weapon are made pursuant to subsection (a).

(Act 98-581, p. 1288, §§1, 2.)