What is the difference between sheriffs and police officers

Member Login. Many of these differences involve: Their primary jurisdictional boundaries The primary funding source for their particular agency Distinct differences in their duties as designated by the Texas Legislature. Sheriff A sheriff is a peace officer who holds public office; the voters in each county elect their sheriff once every four years. Police A municipality may create and fund a police department but it is not required by law to do so.

Constables Constables are also peace officers whose offices were created by the Texas Constitution. Constables may appoint deputies who are peace officers to assist in performing their duties. By statute, constables duties include: Serves as a licensed peace officer and performs various law enforcement functions, including issuing traffic citations Serves warrants and civil papers such as subpoenas and temporary restraining orders Serves as bailiff for Justice of the Peace Court.

What are the duties of all Texas county officials? If a city or town has its own police force, the sheriff normally lets city cops deal with crimes and emergencies within that jurisdiction. The sheriff and their deputies are responsible not only for law enforcement but courtroom security, county jails and serving legal documents such as subpoenas or eviction notices.

Some city governments pay the sheriff's department for services rather than set up their own police force. State troopers' primary job is to patrol the state highways and roads. Georgia state police, for example, investigate traffic crashes, assist motorists and help other agencies enforce traffic laws.

Like sheriffs and deputies, troopers have the authority to make arrests. They also help investigate criminal cases that stretch across local jurisdictions throughout the state. Unlike state troopers, county sheriffs are elected officials. The requirements for serving as a sheriff are typically set in the state constitution and state laws.

In North Carolina, for instance, a sheriff:. For example, some states require additional policy training for deputy sheriffs. If you want to pursue either career path, it may be helpful to research the requirements for the state in which you seek employment.

Both deputy sheriffs and police officers can pursue an undergraduate degree in law enforcement to supplement their knowledge of law, criminal investigations and police policy. Undergraduate degrees can take between two and four years to complete. An associate degree is a two-year program that teaches students the basics of law enforcement, whereas a bachelor's degree is a four-year program that teaches more advanced concepts and methods.

Students who hold a bachelor's degree in law enforcement may earn a higher salary because of the advanced knowledge they attain. Deputy sheriffs and police officers typically hold at least an associate degree, but a degree isn't always a requirement, as it may vary by employer.

Education requirements can vary by state, too, with some states requiring officers to pursue an undergraduate degree before entering academy training. Regardless of the career path you choose or the state in which you plan to pursue your career, an undergraduate degree in law enforcement can help support your ambitions.

Deputy sheriffs and police officers share similar duties, with a few key differences:. Patrolling areas: Both deputy sheriffs and police officers patrol their jurisdictions to deter crime and monitor civilians. However, police officers often patrol city streets, while deputy sheriffs typically patrol highways or county roads.

Investigating crimes: Deputy sheriffs and police officers both investigate crimes, but the nature of those crimes and their jurisdictions can determine the level of involvement for both law enforcement professions. For example, a police officer may investigate a burglary within their city but surrender that case to detectives who specialize in homicides if a murder also occurred at the crime scene, even though the crime happened in their jurisdiction.

Enforcing laws: Deputy sheriffs and police officers both enforce the law but maintain respect for each other's jurisdictions. Cooperation between departments is frequent and often necessary to solve high-profile crimes. Monitoring roadways: Deputy sheriffs typically monitor highways and county roads for traffic violations, whereas police officers monitor city roads and highways within city limits.

Another key difference between a deputy sheriff and a police officer is their annual salaries. In the United States of America, the scope of a sheriff varies across states and counties. The sheriff is most often considered as a county official, who serves as the arm of the county court. He is generally considered to be the highest law enforcement officer of a county. A sheriff is in most cases elected by the citizens of the county.

In the Commonwealth City of Virginia, people have a sheriff's office that serves as the arm of the city court and jail. The sheriffs perform court duties.

The duties may include functions such as administering the county or city jail, providing courtroom security and prisoner transportation, serving warrants and serving process. In urban areas, a sheriff may be restricted to perform such duties. Many sheriffs and their deputies are considered or serve only as the principal police force. It was in the 18th century that the police force came into being from London; they were called as the Metropolitan Police Force of London.

The term police force is most commonly associated with police services of a state, which are permitted to exercise the power of that state within a defined legal area of responsibility. Police forces are often considered or known to be a separate group, which differs from the military or any other organizations that are involved in the defense of a state against foreign terrors.

However, there are police officers working in military units, who are charged with public policing. They have limited jurisdiction.