What's the difference between a policeman, a sheriff and a state trooper?

Question

are they three seperate things or are they all pretty much the same?

Answer 1

All are peace officers. The differences will depend on the State and laws associated with the titles.

In Ohio:

State Troopers are State public safety officers. They patrol main roadways and only have jurisdiction on public roadways and State Property.

Police Officers are hired and work for municipalities. They have jurisdiction within that city or village, etc.

Sheriff's (or their Deputies) are the oldest level of local law enforcement dating back to the middle ages. The word Sheriff comes from the words Shire Reeve. Sheriff's have the highest authority within their County over city and State Officials.

All drive cruisers and wear badges and guns though.

Answer 2

All are peace officers. the changes will count on the State and regulations linked with the titles. In Ohio: State infantrymen are State public secure practices officers. They patrol substantial roadways and easily have jurisdiction on public roadways and State materials. In some States the State infantrymen/State Police have a greater physically powerful authority, yet no longer in Ohio law enforcement officials are employed and paintings for municipalities. they have jurisdiction interior that city or village, and so on. Sheriff's (or their Deputies) are the oldest point of community regulation enforcement relationship back to the midsection an prolonged time. The observe Sheriff comes from the words Shire Reeve. Sheriff's have the utmost authority interior their County over city and State officers. All tension cruisers and placed on badges and weapons nevertheless.

Answer 3

Kevin is pretty much spot on. The only thing I would clarify is that State Police or State Troopers have authority throughout the entire state, not just on state property.
They are responsible for enforcing traffic laws mainly in my state anyway, patrolling mostly highways and especially interstate highways.
We as municipal Police Officers were given deputy comissions so we could assist the deputies in the county. It was funny to pull people over outside the city and have them say "you can't do that!" Well, I just did.

Answer 4

It depends on the specific state/province, and what they choose to call their law enforcement officers.

Usually, police work for the city, sheriffs for the county, and troopers for the state. Each has a different direct responsibility, and potentially different areas of jurisdiction and authority.

Answer 5

The simplest answer is: police work for the city, sheriff works for the county, and state trooper works for the state. So its a difference in jurisdiction.

Answer 6

Lumpy r and Kevin both are correct. You town has local enforcement that will provide a close attention to that area, County and Sheriff both have Jurisdiction in that County they represent. County officers are incharge of County roads or county property. The Sheriffs are incharge of the Jails. But both are back up to you town or local police. State is incharge of State Roads and state property, they are also a back up to the Sheriff, county and municipal officers. Its just a level of control. ALTHOUGH, if an incident happens in your municipality, it is the jurisdiction of your municipality, County, Sheriffs, State and surrounder municipalities can assist upon request of your municipality.

-State Troopers: State roads, facilities, and property (Back up to those with lesser jurisdictions)

-Sheriffs: Jails, foreclosures, Court House (Assists lesser jurisdictions)

-County Police: County Parks, Roads (Assists with lesser Jurisdictions)

-Municipal/local/town Police: Anything within City limits (May back up any of the above within city limits and other outside local law enforcement upon request aka Mutual aid agreement.)

Answer 7

i think it goes up by ranking and by the area that each is required to keep an overall hand to....

like an analogy to help understand this could be any general factory. You have the main employees (policemen), the general manager for each area like HR, finance, production (sherriffs) and then you have the higher levels of chair like vice presidents, CEO, president. Although the president isn't the owner, he keeps out a general eye (state trooper)

Answer 8

Jurisdiction.

Answer 9

Who employs them. There all do the same work, just for different government entities.

Answer 10

the bucket!