16 Pa. Stat. § 4221.7
Whenever there are urgent reasons for the filling of a vacancy in any position in the force of deputy sheriffs and there are no names on the eligible list for such appointment, the sheriff of the county may nominate a person to the commission for a noncompetitive examination and if such nominee shall be certified by the commission as qualified, after such noncompetitive examination, he may be appointed provisionally to fill such vacancy until an examination for such position can be held. It shall thereupon become the duty of the commission, within three weeks from the date of provisional appointment, to hold a competitive examination for such position and certify a list of eligibles to the sheriff of the county and a regular appointment shall then be made as prescribed in this act. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the appointment of deputy sheriffs without examination to act in emergency cases, for the suppression of riots, breaches of the peace, tumults, in times of war, pestilence, conflagration, or public celebration.
16 P.S. § 4221.7