What Does a Sheriff Do? Sheriffs Responsibilities & Duties
Whether you are looking to get into law enforcement or just genuinely curious about sheriffs, you’re probably wondering what a sheriff is and what their job is like.
Well, there is more to their job than what most people think. Before we begin talking in-depth about sheriffs, let’s get this out of the way, a sheriff is a law enforcement officer who works for the county. The sheriff does not work for the city or state. He or she is working on the county level.
What is a Sheriff?
Before we can truly get any deeper, let’s talk about what is a sheriff. Well, for starters, a sheriff is typically a person who eas elected for the sheriff role. The sheriff’s position comes up in county elections every four years.
The sheriff of the county is responsible for everyone under him/her only on the county level. The Sheriff doesn’t have a say over what the city police do, but they have jurisdiction over the entire county.
In short, the sheriff ensures that all residents are following all federal, state, and local laws. Their job is to enforce such laws. The sheriff can stop you if you are in the county and you’re acting suspicious as they have jurisdiction over the said county.
What is a Deputy Sheriff?
So now that you know what the sheriff is let’s talk about the deputy sheriff. A lot of people think the deputy sheriff and the sheriff are the same roles. You will be surprised when I tell you that is not the case. The deputy sheriff, in short, is the assistant to the sheriff.
The deputy sheriff will have a task list that he/she will need to get done. This role is similar to those of their co-workers, but they have a tiny bit more power.
But in short, the deputy sheriff is one stop under the sheriff.
What Does a Sheriff do? Sheriffs Responsibilities & Duties
Now that we have discussed the deputy sheriff, you are wondering what in the world does the sheriff do all day if they make the deputy sheriff do all the leg work.
Unfortunately, some tasks cannot be passed down to the deputy sheriff, so the sheriff itself will have to take on. These tasks include, but not limited to:
- Arresting Suspects
- Criminal Investigations
- Emergency Response
- Executing Warrants
- Investigating Complaints
- Monitoring Traffic Safety
- Patrolling
- Resolving Disputes
However, please also note that the sheriff is also in charge of checking overall clerical and managerial duties. Even though this work will typically get done by the deputy sheriff, the sheriff still checks it for any discrepancies if an issue arises later.
Sheriff Facts
Did you know to be a sheriff, you only need your high school diploma or your GED?
If you do not think you are cut out to be a sheriff, or the sheriff role seems to have too much responsibility, you can also try your hand as a border patrol agent, correctional officer, or police detective. These roles are similar to the sheriff position, but with less responsibility.
According to Salary.com, the median income of a sheriff in the United States is around $109,000. It is one of the fastest grossing law enforcement officer position. In 2018, the median income for a sheriff in the United States came in as $61,000.
