How are responsibilities of police chief and sheriff (for the county) differ?

Question

Trying to understand what it is a sheriff does - this is in view of local elections. Please explain as concisely as possible. Copy and pastes from wikipedia will not result in best answer. Thanks

Answer 1

The responsibilities differ in accordance to the state charter.
In TN, the police chief is appointed by the mayor and is responsible for the enforcing the law in the city limits.
The sheriff, according to TN state law, is the chief law enforcement officer in the county. He is responsible for transporting and housing prisoners, serving civil and criminal papers, and for patrolling/enforcing the law in the areas not in the city limits. The sheriff/his deputies can and sometimes do enforce the laws inside the city limits but the police dept is confined to working inside the city limits.
Several counties have went METRO, which combines the county and the city limits as one. In this case, normally the sheriff takes care of transporting and housing prisoners, serving civil and criminal papers, and court security. The police chief is then responsible for investigation and enforcement of the law.

A quick trip to your local library should help determine what your state law has assigned as responsibilities to each.

Answer 2

There is a huge difference between the Police Chief and The Sheriff. Police Chief is appointed by the mayor. The Sheriff is elected by the tax payers of that county. The Police Chiefs roll is to oversee the operation and efficiency of that department. The same goes for the Sheriff but his main objective is to control and maintain the JAIL and COURT. His jail is the biggest liability that the county has. The Sheriff does not have to put deputy's on the road at least in the state of Indiana. I happen to work for the Sheriffs Department.

Answer 3

You'll probably end up more confused than ever. In simplified terms, a sheriff and police chief are pretty much the same. The difference is in their jurisidiction.

A police chief is the head of a municipal (city) police department that has primary jurisdiction for law enforcement within the city limits.

A sheriff is the "police chief" (so to speak) for a law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction for all the county area that is not within a city limits.

Each has a few other duties that may be significant to their office, but when you get down to basic terms of these two offices, it is more jurisdicitional than anything.

Answer 4

There is a big difference between the two.

The Police Chief, or Commissioner (or both, depending on the location) is responsible for the policy and procedure of the police department. He acts as top police officer in the county. He is usually appointed by the executive of the county. The police department is responsible for ensuring the law is enforced.

The sheriff is responsible for the policy and procedure of the sheriff's office. He plays the same role as the chief, but for the sheriff's office. He and his office are responsible for issuing subpoenas and providing security within the county's penal system. The office is also responsible for prisoner transport. The sheriff plays and important role in that he is the one who will recommend programs to the county regarding the housing and punishment of prisoners. (Chain gangs for clean up or a new prison due to overpopulation)

Hope that helps

Answer 5

The police Chief, is most authoritive CITY cop. In MO, he is appointed his position or hired, not elected as the sheriff is. He is responsible for his policemen and maintaining good public standing with the citizens, the media, and other law enforcement. The sheriff is an elected position, he works very close with the prosecuting attorney and county commissioners who are also elected officials, he is responsible for running the jail, his own deputies,maintaining a good public image (those votes are impotant!) and should always work well with other law enforcement. Both positions are sworn under an oath of honor, code of conduct and code of ethics, which means they are to serve and protect without showing bias and should be honest people in general.

Answer 6

The city or county police are under the chief,the sheriff has deputies under him,they take care of the court system and serve warrents and pick up offenders.