A. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall be authorized at his discretion to appoint special agents. These agents shall be appointed from employees who have attained the rank of sergeant or Probation and Parole Officer 1, and may carry weapons exposed or concealed while in the performance of their duties in the same manner as law enforcement officers.
B. The secretary shall formulate and adopt appropriate rules and regulations governing the qualifications and duties of special agents.