Section 901. Office of the sheriff

1. The commissioner of correction of the
  city  of  New  York  shall  have  custody of the civil jails and persons
  lawfully committed to his custody and such jails shall be kept  by  him,
  or by keepers appointed by him, for whose acts he shall be responsible.
    2.  The  provisions of section two hundred eighteen and the provisions
  of article seventeen of this chapter shall apply to the sheriff,  except
  when  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of this article, the charter,
  administrative code or a local law  adopted  pursuant  thereto.  In  the
  interpretation  of  this section, a board of supervisors shall be deemed
  to mean the officer or agency vested with power under the New York  city
  charter, or by other law, to act pursuant to this article.