Section 661. When sheriff party to an action or proceeding

1. In an action
  or special proceeding to which the sheriff  is  a  party,  all  mandates
  shall  be  directed to the county clerk of the county, who shall execute
  the same with all the powers and duties of a sheriff including the power
  to arrest under civil  process  and  to  accept  undertakings  for  jail
  liberties, and shall be subject to the same liability as the sheriff for
  escape.  The place of confinement of such sheriff shall be a house other
  than the jail or the home of the sheriff situate within  the  limits  of
  jail  liberties,  and such house shall be deemed the county jail for all
  purposes of confinement and liability for escape.  Such clerk shall have
  power to prosecute such undertaking the same as a sheriff and may assign
  the undertaking  to  the  party  at  whose  instance  such  sheriff  was
  arrested.
    2.  When  the  sheriff  is  the  plaintiff  in  an  action  or special
  proceeding and another person is arrested under  civil  process  at  the
  instance  of  the sheriff, the county clerk shall confine such person in
  the county jail. The county clerk shall be liable in the same manner  as
  the  sheriff,  except  that  he  shall not be liable while the person is
  confined in the jail and in the custody of the sheriff.