Sheriff vs. Police

[BDawg]

What's the difference between the two besides the obvious difference in jurisdiction?

 

[tnitsuj]

Depends on where you are. Some counties only have a Sheriffs department which basically handles all policing duties. In others thier could be a county police department and a sheriffs department. In those cases the Sheriffs run the courthouse, run jails, serve warrants, do evictions, etc. etc. while the Police do everything else. It really all depends on where you are.

 

[LeeTJ]

i thought sheriffs were elected.

police are usually county or larger cities.

 

[Mill]

Lots of differences actually. The Sheriff has jurisdiction anywhere in the county regardless whether or not another municipality exists. A Sheriff also serves warrants, does evictions, and other functions of the county circuit or probate court. Local municipalities don't normally do that unless a warrant is specific to their case.

tnitsuj has a good answer so I will let his fill in any gaps I missed.

 

[Toasthead]

A deputy sheriff has authority thoughout an entire county usually, whereas a police officers authority is usually limited to the city for which he works.In California, It is usually the Deputy sheriffs job to patrol/enfore the unincorporated areas of a larger city area. Sheriffs are also usally coroners. The actual Sheriff is an elected position.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: BDawg
What's the difference between the two besides the obvious difference in jurisdiction?

You can call either one the "Fun Patrol" because if you're having fun, they'll put an end to it.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Depends on where you are. Some counties only have a Sheriffs department which basically handles all policing duties. In others thier could be a county police department and a sheriffs department. In those cases the Sheriffs run the courthouse, run jails, serve warrants, do evictions, etc. etc. while the Police do everything else. It really all depends on where you are.

All assumptions are that both a sheriff's department and police force exist (since they do in my county),

aside from your comment above, they both play many of the same roles in terms of law enforcement, just in different settings? The police are limited by the city, while the sheriff is limited by county?

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ
i thought sheriffs were elected.

Just the head sheriff. The deputies are all hired.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Depends on where you are. Some counties only have a Sheriffs department which basically handles all policing duties. In others thier could be a county police department and a sheriffs department. In those cases the Sheriffs run the courthouse, run jails, serve warrants, do evictions, etc. etc. while the Police do everything else. It really all depends on where you are.

All assumptions are that both a sheriff's department and police force exist (since they do in my county),

aside from your comment above, they both play many of the same roles in terms of law enforcement, just in different settings? The police are limited by the city, while the sheriff is limited by county?

The Sheriff normally performs more duties of the court. In most counties they are responsible for enforcing court orders, securing the court room, and serving any bench or arrest warrants that a local municipality might not have the power to. In fact, local municipalities only serve warrants on cases they are leading.