Police Chiefs vs. Sheriffs Police

Police Chiefs vs. Sheriffs

Police chiefs and sheriffs perform many of the same duties, including administration and management of the entire department. Both positions play a key role in their departments, because they are the commanding officer of the department, and set the standard for their department, as well. The local governing body, such as the City Council, appoints most police chiefs, and they serve for an unspecified amount of time, or under a contract with the governing body. For the most part, police chiefs serve cities, or developed areas, while sheriffs serve unincorporated or county areas.

Police chiefs are the organizers of their departments, as well. They determine the posts of officers and how the force is divided into units. They review paperwork and officer reports, discipline officers when necessary, and issue the working orders for the department. Many chiefs are also in charge of training both officers and new recruits, and even recommend what purchases should be made for the department.

The police chief is also responsible for directing activities during emergencies or major accidents, and he or she coordinates operations between other responders, such as fire, rescue, sheriff, etc. The chief is responsible for good working relationships between these departments, as well. In many departments, they also serve as the public relations officer, or at least the media contact for major stories, press conferences, and such. They also appear in public speaking engagements, such as local safety talks, school programs, and such.

Obviously, they have to be experienced in police work, and they have to have managerial qualities. They also must be familiar with local laws and ordinances, and how to enforce the laws effectively.

Sheriffs have many of the same duties as police chiefs. They administer and manage their departments, and serve as the commanding officer of the department. Unlike police chiefs, most sheriffs are elected by the people to serve in their post for a specific number of years, and they must run for re-election when the term expires. Sheriffs usually have smaller staffs, and so they may have more duties and responsibilities than a police chief, who has a larger staff to handle some of his or her responsibilities, such as training or PR.

Often, sheriffs are responsible for county jails, which take in prisoners and suspects from the surrounding area, and transfer them to county courts when the time for trial comes. The sheriff is responsible for his officers and their patrols, which may entail covering outlying areas that are farther away from the main station. Sheriff's officers are called deputies. Many sheriffs' departments have disappeared as state and county police take over the duties of sheriffs.

If the sheriff is responsible for the county jail, he or she is also responsible for providing officers to transport prisoners, guard the county courts, and serving warrants and other legal documents. Usually, the sheriff and city police do not share jurisdiction, but have clearly defined boundaries where they do and do not serve. In Florida, sheriffs serve all the counties except Miami-Dade, where there are two elected directors, but no sheriff's department. Throughout the state, sheriffs are recognized as the officers with the most power, or the chief law-enforcement officer of the area, who supersede police chiefs in power and authority.