www.ditl.org

I said we do it, I didn't say it made a lot of sense. I think having that being a political job is asinine personally.

Sherriff and chief of police is usually different positions from what I understand, the Sherif decides things like a crack down on drugs or prostitution ect.

Teaos wrote:Sherriff and chief of police is usually different positions from what I understand, the Sherif decides things like a crack down on drugs or prostitution ect.

Again, it depends largely on where you are. In some places the Sheriff and his deputies are it when it comes to law enforcement. In others they are largely the administrative arm of law. They're typically responsible for a county but when some cities take up an entire county the Sheriff can become top dog.

In either case it shouldn't be an elected official.

The guy threatens that there will be more attacks on innocent men like the one he committed. That sounds like terrorist activities to me. Time for some good old-fashioned "enhanced interrogation." At this time I would like to know what Rush Limbaugh would do? Besides pop pills.

Nutso wrote:Time for some good old-fashioned "enhanced interrogation."

I like pliers.






...disregard that.

Odds are good he's a lone nutcase. Since he's in jail and can't kill another doctor spreading fear is as good as he can do at the moment.

Rochey wrote:But he is the head of police, yes?
Why the hell do you vote for your head of police?

Usually no the sherrif isn't the head of the police. There are exceptions but AFAIK, the Sherrif's department is seperate from the City Poliece/State Police.

As for the election, not that I'm saying it's not loopy, but do remember our Nation was founded with a disapproval of strong central power. Election is one way to have a central leader, that you can get rid of if they start to abuse that power.

Also, dogcatcher is an elected official.

You're joking, right? What the hell kind of campaign would they run?

"Our economic woes are all the fault of those damn Chihuahas!"

Lt. Staplic wrote: Usually no the sherrif isn't the head of the police. There are exceptions but AFAIK, the Sherrif's department is seperate from the City Poliece/State Police.

So what, exatly, does the Sherrif do?

Lt. Staplic wrote: As for the election, not that I'm saying it's not loopy, but do remember our Nation was founded with a disapproval of strong central power. Election is one way to have a central leader, that you can get rid of if they start to abuse that power.

It's also the easiest way of ensuring that the position is run by political idiots with no idea how to really do that job.

Rochey wrote:It's also the easiest way of ensuring that the position is run by political idiots with no idea how to really do that job.

Exactly, because crime is not the actual focus, it's getting re-elected. So he'll do what gives him the best chance of getting re-elected, even if its not the best thing for the general well being.

Rochey wrote:You're joking, right? What the hell kind of campaign would they run?

We have this saying in the US that if someone is a really horrible candidate, they couldn't even get elected dog catcher. But in reality, no, we don't actually elect dog catchers.

So what, exatly, does the Sherrif do?

In the US, in general, the sheriff is an elected official who serves as the highest law enforcement agent for a county. (E.g., there are 14 counties in Massachusetts, 58 in California and 254 in Texas.) The sheriff's duties vary from county to county, and from state to state; here in Massachusetts and other Northeastern states, the sheriff is mainly just in charge of the county jails and some bureaucratic matters. In some other parts of the country, the sheriff and his deputies play a more active role in law enforcement. But as Staplic pointed out, the sheriff is almost always separate from the municipal and state-level police forces, which have an appointed command structure.

Another significant thing is that many judges and district attorneys (public prosecutors) in the US are elected as well.

thanks lazar

Ours does the county jails and I think also works with the city prosecutor to decide to charge people.

Lazar wrote:We have this saying in the US that if someone is a really horrible candidate, they couldn't even get elected dog catcher. But in reality, no, we don't actually elect dog catchers.

Ah, there's hope for you yet, then.

Lazar wrote:In the US, in general, the sheriff is an elected official who serves as the highest law enforcement agent for a county. (E.g., there are 14 counties in Massachusetts, 58 in California and 254 in Texas.) The sheriff's duties vary from county to county, and from state to state; here in Massachusetts and other Northeastern states, the sheriff is mainly just in charge of the county jails and some bureaucratic matters. In some other parts of the country, the sheriff and his deputies play a more active role in law enforcement. But as Staplic pointed out, the sheriff is almost always separate from the municipal and state-level police forces, which have an appointed command structure.

Thanks for the info. Though I still consider it a bad idea to have any member of the law-enforcement group elected.

Lazar wrote:Another significant thing is that many judges and district attorneys (public prosecutors) in the US are elected as well.

Dear god, if anything that's worse.