Sheriff Joe Arpaio

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by generalderpanzertruppen

Hi Tom, what's the deal with electing your sherrif though? We don't elect any police or judges, they're all state government employees, so why isn't that the case over there? Should the local judge or sherrif be the result of a popularity contest? Couldn't that leave the prospect of corruption open, in a small town maybe, where one guy, and I use this analogy very loosely, like Boss Hogg, might be the big man in town, wouldn't someone like that have a lot of power that wouldn't be available to him if the positions of influence, like sherrifs and judges were state employees and thus out of local control or interference through money and or power? You have state police anyway don't you, so why don't they make all police in the state, state police?

In the US each state has its own system of law enforcement. Some states have appointed judges, some have elected judges, and some have both. Similarly with sheriffs. Though most are elected, they have varying responsibilities in different states, and even often in different jurisdictions within states (cities versus counties, etc.). Police and other law enforcement officers are generally civil servants though chiefs of police departments are often political appointees. Again, that varies from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Federal law enforcement officers (FBI, Secret Service, NCIS, etc.) are also government employees but their directors are political appointees.

As for making all police state police, that is probably a "turf" issue. As an example, New York City wants control of its police department so they have their own. A "statie" can come into the city but generally they are never seen there. Also, in many jurisdictions local police are paid much less than are state police, and many would not qualify as state police officers. In my city we only see state police on the Interstate (Federal) highways. Otherwise our local city police are responsible for law enforcement.

To further muddy the waters, I believe that some states even have two police forces, a "highway patrol" and a "state police department".

[Tom Houlihan]

Troy, Jim pretty much covered it. There are several different systems at work. In the less rural areas, the sheriff's deptartment is often more administrative, doing court duties, serving court papers, and things like that.

In an area with more rural areas, then the sheriff's department will usually be the patrol officers, covering the places "outside of town" that don't have their own police departments.

Jim's also right about basic jurisdiction issues. While the State Police have authority in our County, they generally won't go looking for anything, though if something happens in front of them, they'll take action of course. Likewise, our County Sheriff's Department technically can work in a city, but if there's a PD there, then they have jurisdiction. Definitely a 'turf' issue.

I will disagree, though, with the last statement. I've not researched it specifically, but I can't recall any state with both a SP and HP. One or the other, but not both. I feel bad for the HP guys, too. That's literally all they do. They get assigned a stretch of highway, and they just drive back and forth, forth and back, ad nauseum... Yuck!

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

I will disagree, though, with the last statement. I've not researched it specifically, but I can't recall any state with both a SP and HP. One or the other, but not both.

Doesn't Texas still have the Texas Rangers and the Highway Patrol?

[Tom Houlihan]

I do believe you're correct on that, Jim! I forgot about the Rangers. I'm not sure how exactly they fit in the hierarchy, but I imagine they'd qualify as state police.

Good catch!

[Troy Tempest]

Hi Tom (and Jim), sorry, I've only just stumbled onto the email telling me your replies had been posted to my question - Thanks for those fellas.

[Tom Houlihan]

That's okay, Troy! We'll just consider the source!

[Troy Tempest]

Yeah, sorry Tom, I didn't mean to let it go nearly a year...is that an arrestable offense in Michigan?

[Jim O]

We could make it one...

[Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

I do believe you're correct on that, Jim! I forgot about the Rangers. I'm not sure how exactly they fit in the hierarchy, but I imagine they'd qualify as state police.

Good catch!

The Texas Rangers are an elite branch of the Department of Public Safety, which is our state law enforcement agency. The regular joes in the patrol cars are referred to as Troopers.

[Jim O]

So I was incorrect after all.