What is the main difference between the police department and the Sheriffs Department?

Answer 1

Answer applicable to the US only: The history of policing is quite long, and over time various systems have evolved into our modern systems. In the US, there are "police departments" and there are Sheriff's Offices. The differences between them are as vast as the charters and state statutes within which the different organizations operate. I will restrict the rest of the discussion just to my state, and the following are generalizations - each with exceptions. In my state, there are 64 Sheriff's offices, each headed by a particular official called a Sheriff. Also in my state, there are hundreds of police departments. In each case, the role of the Sheriff's Office and the police department are different, and are established by charter or by statute. In general, a sheriff is an elected official, who runs for office as a political candidate; a Chief of Police is an official who is appointed by an elected official usually a Mayor. In general, a sheriff is a law enforcement officer, and his authority and duties are subordinated to other law enforcement officers under his command who are "deputized" to carry out law enforcement activities; these are the "deputies." The Sheriff is autonomous, and essentially rules supreme - the only person who can arrest the Sheriff is the County Coroner. The Sheriff and his deputies have county-wide authority for all crimes, and state-wide authority for high crimes. Sheriff's deputies are essentially ALWAYS on duty. A Chief of Police, may or may not be a police officer; rather the Chief of Police may be a civilian administrator. The authority of his subordinates, "Police Officers" may, frequently have authority only within their city, and/or only if on duty. In some cities in my state, the police force is comprised of officers who are not police officers once they leave their city, and/or are not police officers once they call off-duty. In general, a Sheriff's Deputy may enter any city within his "jurisdiction" and perform law enforcement activities, but a police officer is restricted to their town or municipality. As such, the Sheriff's Deputy may patrol from town to town, city to city within their county, with equal authority in each city or town, as well as in unincorporated areas of the county. Generally speaking, Sheriff's Deputies are required to perform criminal law enforcement activities and also perform civil duties. In general, police officers are restricted exclusively to criminal law enforcement. There are, of course, exceptions. For example in two of the counties in my state, the Sheriffs and their Deputies are not law enforcement officers and exclusively perform security and civil functions. As such, unlike other deputies, they have no police powers. These restrictions have been established by the charters for those counties (which in this case the county lines are also the city lines). The only way to know for sure the original jurisdiction and duties of a cop is to ask them.

Answer 2

the difference between the two are, the police dept. handles city ordinances, and city calls, the sheriffs dept. handles all county calls. they can assist local police in any matter that comes up. the sherrif's dept. also holds a higher jurisdiction power, higher over city police. hope this helps. Added; There is a legal and consitutuional difference also. The office of Sheriff is established by the State Consititution and the duties and responsibilities of his office are outlined in the State's Constitution and Sheriff's are elected officials. Police Departments are established under municipal regulations and the Chiefs of Police are appointed rather than being elected.

Answer 3

Both are law enforcement officers. Here in Arizona, each county has one person who is elected as "sheriff." The officers that work under him/her are referred to as deputies. The word "cop" is considered slang, or a very informal term referring to an "officer" of the law.

Answer 4

Fundamentally it is in the way the Department is managed and more importantly by WHO it is managed, and to whom they report. Police Departments are managed and led by the individual governments of the jurisdictions which employ them. The Police Chief is employed by the Mayor/City Manager/City Council/Whatever. The Chief serves at the pleasure of whoever hires him and is somewhat subject to the political power that is put upon him by his boss(es). The Sheriff is a consititutionally protected office named in the State's Constitution. He must stand for re-election and is not answerable to anyof the political powers of the sub-jurisdictions under his control (usually a County). Police departments can only enforce the law within the geographic boundaries of their towns or cities, whereas Sheriff's Deputies can go anywhere in the County to enforce the law and carry out the orders of the court. There are other technical differences but that is pretty much the major differences.

Answer 5

The Police Chief is the head boss of all police. Police work the city limits. Deputy Sheriff is the equivalent of a police officer, but he/she works for the county. Police and Sheriff's Office do help each other, but one works the city and the other works the county.

Answer 6

Sheriff's do the hole county. State police do the hole state.

Answer 7

a sherifs department is for little towns of neighborhoods, and a police department is for everything, everywere

Answer 8

A sheriff usually works for the county, and is an elected position in most places. Police can work for a city, a county, or a state.

Answer 9

Nothing I don't think