Bill P wrote:That's pretty much how it is in Indiana as well. The Sheriff Department is law enforcement unless you live in an incorporated area. As you said, I have a lot of respect for these deputies as well.
As Robin points out - there's a difference between urban/unincorporated areas - but the same bottom line exists: when a person in power decides to abuse that power, it reflects poorly on the whole group. I'm positive these officers of the law are not just fine people but also assets to the communities they serve. There's always that bad apple though that thinks because he/she has a gun, uniform, and badge that his/her authority knows no bounds.
Robin Garr wrote:John Hagan wrote:Out here in the country the sheriff are the "police"
Granted. It's a different situation in the urban area where the city and county (now metro) police are presumably well trained and supervised. I have similar reservations about small-city cops in metro Louisville, by the way. I think doorknob-rattlers would be fine in 125-house subdivisions, but full-time police in uniform with police cars? I've covered too many little cities as a reporter and seen how they're run to feel real comfortable about that.
The small-city cops around here have limited power (have radar gun, will use!), while those in actual small-city systems have absolute jurisdiction over all crimes. In other words, I'm glad there seem to be agreements that the LMPD will take charge when major crimes happen. I'd hate to see one of these small-city tropes run a murder investigation!
If "rich" people want to pay increased taxes to hire Barney Fife, well that's their doing. They'll surely call LMPD when the going gets tough.
Thinks the frosty mug is the low point in American history.