Ala. Code § 45-28-234.01: Employees Exempted.

(a) This part shall apply to all employees of the office of the sheriff.

(b) The following persons shall be exempt to the rules promulgated by the board:

(1) The chief deputy.

(2) The chief of detention.

(3) The chief of administration.

(4) The chief of investigation.

(5) The director of communications.

(6) The food service manager.

(c) The persons specified in subsection (b) shall be appointed by the sheriff and serve at the pleasure of the sheriff. The salary of the employees specified in subsection (b) shall be established by the sheriff and paid from the county treasury as supplemented with discretionary funds provided by the sheriff, subject to the budgetary approval of the county commission as otherwise required by state law. In the event any exempt employee enumerated in subsection (b) is dismissed from his or her position by the sheriff, except for cause, the exempt employee may return to the classified service at the last classification held to a position assigned at the discretion of the sheriff.