What is the difference between sheriff and police?

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Seanman

Seanman

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I've always wondered about this. For example, in Los Angeles, there is the Los Angeles Police Department and a separate Los Angeles Sheriffs Department.

Is there any major difference between them to warrant two separate departments?
 
From Wikipedia:

In California, the sheriff's department of each county polices those areas of the county that do not lie within the jurisdiction of a police department (e.g., incorporated cities).
 
The police typically stay within city limits, whereas the sheriff cover the more rural areas. However, it should be known that the exact definition varies rather widely from state to state, especially if the state has troopers as well, like New York does.
 
Our sheriff is county-wide, whereas each city can also have their own PD.
 
Ah, I see. So the police is restricted to cities only while sheriffs govern across the whole county. Thanks. 👍
 
They generally have different responsibilities as well. The Sherriff's department is usually responsible for the county jail, providing bailiffs in the courts, etc. It's also where you go to apply for many legal permits, such as for a concealed weapon. As far as law enforcement goes, the Sherriff's department is generally concerned with unincorporated areas of the county, which is why they get so much drug work: there are very few pot fields in the city. :sly:

At the state level you have the highway patrol. In some states it's actually state police, but it's the same function, patrol of major highways, traffic enforcement and accident investigation.
 
This is definitely a good question I had never thought to ask... Think of the guys in rangers in GTA san andreas as the Sheriffs dept. while the guys in cruisers are the regular city police, I guess that makes helis and enforcers state police?
EDIT: watching super troopers could also help explain the difference and make you laugh your ass off in the process :)
 
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