Why do so many county sheriffs dress like they are straight from the "old west"?

Question

I mean, it's the 21st century, yet these guys dress for work like they are going to a rodeo or to feed the cows. Yeah, I know, the terms sheriff, deputy, bring thoughts of a tin star and a six-shooter but geeeeez, do they have to take it literally? I saw a picture of our county sheriff and there he was, boots, ten-gallon hat, western shirt, and a big belt buckle. OK, so maybe the whole western/country thing is his lifestyle, but wear it to work? What if he was a Harley rider, would he come to work wearing a black leather jacket, a black Harley t-shirt, and a doo-rag over his pony tail? I'm sorry, but its hard to have confidence in an elected official that looks like he just fell off the hay truck. Today's law enforcement is very up to date and hi-tech and they should look the part. Professional people should dress professionally! Even Sheriff Andy Taylor wore a police uniform in Mayberry.

Answer 1

This is a problem where I live. They literally have a club they call Cowboys! And yeah, people do make fun of them. I don't know why. You are right, it would help the public image if they dressed like a professional.

Answer 2

How a sheriff dresses is partly influenced by his/her own background but more heavily influenced by the community standards. In most areas, the position is an elected position. The candidate dresses to win votes. If the public feels comfortable with a cowboy dressing, Old West style sheriff then the candidate gets elected.
How do the deputies dress? Again, the uniform is partly influenced by community standards, partly by personal choice.

no239ok appears to speak from a lack of knowledge. Statistically, in must jurisdictions, law enforcement personnel have higher IQ's then the general public. Whereas it is not a true profession yet because college degrees are not required by all agencies, many agencies do require a degree. Many others pay officers to continue education. All states have on going required training programs. After all, officers must be smarter than the crooks they apprehend or there would be no arrests.

Thanks Jason for supporting me. Last time I checked 104 is higher than 100.

Answer 3

Snobalz is not quite correct about IQ. First, most departments do not test IQ. But those that do generally select for IQ's around average. People with abnormally low IQ are undesirable for obvious reasons. However, people with unusaully high intelligence are also screened out. For example, the New York State mental abilties test tends to select those with a score that translates to about 104 on the Binet IQ scale. (100 is the population average)

The logic, apparently, is that due to the highly routine nature of policework, high intelligence candidates may rapidly become bored and result in loss of money spent in equipment/training.

Answer 4

I guess it depends on where you are. It's not like that where I am. Here, the county sheriff's department employees for all the counties closest to me wear uniforms pretty similar to the various uniforms worn by the city cops in all the cities close to me. And none of them look like the Old West.

Answer 5

Maybe they felt like it? For the most part the Sheriff can dress how they want, as long as it's appropriate and tidy/official looking, it's just the deputies that are required to wear the uniforms.

Answer 6

Where do you live? All deputies that work here wear the same uniform that I do. The exact same that city police do, just brown and tan.

Answer 7

Because that's the uniform policy defined by their county.

Some of it is practical -- books are good in rough environments; leather is good defense in an accident or against an unruly suspect, as well as being durable. The hat is probably defined by county rules -- and may be a function of tradition.

The belt buckle is probably a personal choice.

Answer 8

My grandson is an officer with the Monroe County Sheriffs Dept. and they dress and are a good looking bunch of cops. Now, that's what I call class. Joanie

Answer 9

law enforcement has always attracted the less able and intellectually limited people. they are very good people, but not very bright.

they feel that they can dress silly like the old west, in their mind they present a realistic representation of what they perceive the law to be

try to humor them and dont anger them

these are challenged people..........dont try
to change them

remember, they are doing their best..

if looking like deputy dawg is their idea of modern law enforcement.....so be it

remember......its the honesty and integrity and courage of the person that wears the outfit........

if they are good people....then they can dress anyway they want

Ill bet the people that ripped off Enron and the spies caught in the FBI......were real snappy dressers, nice suits and uniforms

so what your issue with hillbillies anyway ???

is the enlisted man uniform in the US Navy also too old fashioned for you ????

I think your a narrow minded punk

I hope you grow up and realize they is more to life....than talking about how people look...........